Slovenia has potential but must increase competitiveness

In complex global geopolitical conditions, when the world is changing faster than ever, Slovenia has great development potential, but in the long run it will have to strengthen its competitiveness and productivity and also take care of security as a new priority in the wider European context, the participants of the Banking Association of Slovenia (ZBS) agreed to the future.

The impact Stanislave Zadravec Caprirolo It is comprehensively and goes to geopolitics, global trade, investments, supply chains, financial markets, green transition, EU and Slovenia. Geopolitical shocks and tension can directly affect the financial position of banks by increasing credit, market, operational, liquidity and financial risk, and by revaluation of property. Customs and sanctions can affect the quality of the assets. In addition, the increasing number of cyber attacks can increase operational risks and reputation risks.

Our fall in the world competitiveness charts shows that we need to improve economic policy and to invest in innovation and development. In addition, Slovenia needs effective social dialogue through which it would maintain competitiveness in the long run by cooperating between the state, companies, financial sector and social partners, said ZBS director.

Banks with lower profits and more deals

Geopolitical risks have increased uncertainty in a macrophynistic environment, which also feels Slovenia as one of the most open economies. The income risk in Slovenian banks remains low, but will increase with interest rates. In the future, bank profitability is expected, and at the same time, the volume of bank operations will increase with lower interest rates, said Deputy Governor of the Bank of Slovenia Primož Dolenc. Low competitiveness and productivity affect the economic growth in the Union and in our country, and on the other hand, value added in our country increases most in high -tech industries such as pharmacy. Our advantage is access to the EU 450 million market, and in the future it is key to deepening the capital market, which would also increase the EU competitiveness on a global scale.

State Secretary at the Ministry of Economy Matevž Frangez When presenting measures to promote investment and competitiveness of the Slovenian economy, he stressed that by 2030 aims to € 100,000 in value added per employee. Due to the fall in investment activity, according to him, it will be necessary to activate the savings.

As he said Kyriacos kakourisVice President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), are now security and defense between their main priorities. Thus, last year, the bank spent a billion euros for security projects, and this year it will double this sum. In the EIB, which is the EU Development Bank, they see Slovenia as a country with great potential and a clear commitment to the future -oriented investment. In addition to having great opportunities for the use of renewable energy sources, they also see us as above -average in the EU in the areas of robotics and innovation.

Brodknak for the Development Cap

Representatives of the economy and banks discussed the impact of global uncertainty on the Slovenian economy. Danijel Lamperger He noted from the Chamber of Crafts and Entrepreneurship that the situation in small businesses has been poor, as demand from Austria and Germany has declined in recent times. On the other hand, entrepreneurs have affected a number of additional tax burdens and bureaucratic obstacles.

Anita Stojčevska From the management of the OTP Bank, he estimates that the economy is still breathing well, which shows their last year’s business. However, the profitability of companies has declined, due to high uncertainty, companies are not indebted and do not decide on investments, despite the fact that banking sources are now available and relatively inexpensive. The main causes of this are increased uncertainty, protectionism and trade wars. Businesses are thus demanded by permanent working resources, but otherwise, in business with citizens, where demand for consumer as well as for residential loans is increasing, it is increasing the demand for consumer, as well as for residential loans, and is also increasingly in demand for consumer and residential loans.

Slovenians are very flexible and find ourselves well in challenging geostrategic circumstances, he noted Blaž BrodnjakCEO of NLB and President of the Supervisory Board of ZBS. In his estimation, our economy is one of the most industrialized and diverse in the world, and in companies it perceives « apathy and resignation, because of the way we define ourselves to entrepreneurship, capital and success, and competitiveness measures are taken. Some countries in the immediate neighborhood take measures with a targeted intention of increasing competitiveness. We are the first in the world after taxing higher benefits with 66 percent. This burden is added to two more percentage points on July 1, which is not fair to the people who are supposed to take this society. We are uncompetitive because we cannot pay for these people properly. « In his estimation, the tax system will need to be changed, » absolutely « proposes a development cap.

After analyzing the Chief Economist of GZS Bojan Ivanac We are a country of small and medium -sized companies, with a small number of mostly European multinationals. At the same time, we only have half of the companies in domestic processing activities. The latest leading economic indicators indicate the direction of improvement in the first quarter of the first quarter, but the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry estimates that they will probably have to repair this year’s economic forecasts.