|
EBRD publishes new Slovenian strategy
Bank seeks to boost investment in the country's enterprise sector
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's new strategy for Slovenia, published today, praises the country's substantial progress towards establishing a free market economy yet emphasises the need to enhance the restructuring of local enterprises, invest in infrastructure and work closely with local banks to broaden the range of available financial products. The paper is available at the EBRD website: www.ebrd.com.
To date, the EBRD has invested €560 million in 29 projects and mobilised an additional €1 billion in co-investment. Earlier this year, the EBRD acquired a 5 per cent stake in Nova Ljubljanska banka d.d. (NLB), to support the bank's privatisation. The EBRD strategy praises the country's economic reforms. Slovenia, it states, quickly overcame the economic disruption in the initial years of reform and further integrated its economy to the European Union.
The strategy argues that Slovenia should now focus on creating a more competitive enterprise sector, particularly in anticipation of EU accession, through both domestic and foreign direct investment. That should include investing in infrastructure, further privatisation of state-run industries, and support to small and medium-sized enterprises through the local banking sector.
|
