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Ministry of the Economy

Minister

	Matej Lahovnik

Dr Matej Lahovnik

Matej Lahovnik was born on 23 December 1971 in Slovenj Gradec. He finished primary and secondary schools in Velenje. He graduated from the Faculty of Economics of the University of Ljubljana in 1994. He earned his MSc cum laude in 1998. In 2000 he successfully defended his PhD thesis entitled 'Strateški dejavniki priključitev podjetij v državah v tranziciji' [Strategic Factors in Company Acquisitions in Transitional Countries].

Between 1995 and 2001 he worked at the Department of Management and Organisation at the Faculty of Economics in Ljubljana, where he became Assistant Professor in 2001 and Associate Professor for management in 2006. He also lectured the subject Planning and Operations Control for the consortium postgraduate studies which the Faculty organised in co-operation with some of the best known Slovenian companies (Kolektor, Cimos, Domel, Iskra Avtoelektrika, TCG Unitech LTH, Gorenje, Kovinoplastika Lož, Prevent). At the Faculty’s Centre for Teacher Training and Advising he was the principal lecturer for the subject Acquisitions and Mergers and also contributed lectures to the subject Preparing a Strategic Plan and at the investment School. He is a member of the expert council of the Regional Study Centre in Celje. He was a visiting researcher at the Indiana University - Kelley School of Business and contributed to many research projects, including 'Obnašanje podjetij in finančnih institucij v obdobju prehoda' [Behaviour of Companies and Financial Institutions in the Time of Transition], New Finance for Central Europe, 'Strategija gospodarskega razvoja Slovenije' [Slovenia's Economic Development Strategy], 'Uspešne konkurenčne strategije slovenskih in hrvaških podjetij' [Successful Competitive Strategies of Slovenian and Croatian Companies], 'Strateški dejavniki prevzemov podjetij v državah v tranziciji' [Strategic Factors of Acquisitions in Countries in Transition] and 'Regulacija trgov po vstopu v EU' [Regulation of Markets after Accession to the EU]. He is the author and co-author of numerous articles on strategic management and the co-author of two books.

In April 2004 he became the Minister of the Economy. At the last two elections to the National Assembly he was elected an MP. He was elected the Minister of the Economy on 21 November 2008.

State Secretary

	Darja Radić

Darja Radić

Darja Radić was born on 7 December 1965 in Jesenice. She graduated in 1989 from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Ljubljana with the thesis “Galbraith's analysis of modern capitalism”. In 2001, she finished her master's course at the same faculty with the thesis “Proposed model of tourism organisation at the Kranjska Gora tourist destination”. In 1992, as part of a project of the Slovenian Ministry of Small Business she completed a training programme at GEA College Ljubljana and obtained a certificate from the aforementioned Ministry stating that she is qualified to provide counselling and promotion services for small businesses. In 2006, she became a research and development partner in the tourism research group at the College of Tourism in Portorož (Turistica), University of Primorska; she is registered as a researcher at the Slovenian Research Agency.  In the same year she became a habilitated senior college lecturer for tourism management, and a vocational college lecturer for corporate economics and management. In 2008, upon a proposal of the Vocational College for Catering and Tourism in Bled she was awarded the title of vocational college counsellor for corporate economics and project management. 

From 1989 to 1994 she was employed by the Municipality of Jesenice. From 1994 to 1996, she was employed by the construction company Gradbeno podjetje Grosuplje, d.d., as a controller of construction projects and the company’s internal units. Until the end of 1998 she worked for the Municipality of Kranjska Gora in the capacity of tourism and investment adviser.

From 1999 to 2001, she was Director of the Institute for the Promotion and Development of Tourism at the Municipality of Kranjska Gora. From 2001 to 2005, she was first the state undersecretary and head of the Tourism Division and later secretary and head of the Tourism Directorate within the Slovenian Ministry of the Economy.  From 2005 to 1 October 2008, she was head of the Project Implementation Service at the College of Tourism in Portorož (Turistica), University of Primorska. On 22 November 2008, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia appointed her State Secretary with the Ministry of the Economy. 

Organisation

Minister:

Dr Matej Lahovnik

Phone: +386 1 400 36 21

fax: +386 1 400 35 22

e-mail: matej.lahovnik[@]gov.si

State Secretary

Darja Radič, MSc

Phone: +386 1 400 32 73

fax: +386 1 400 32 62

e-mail: darja.radic[@]gov.si

Minister's Office

Head of the Office:

Jasna Avbelj Hamzič

Phone: +386 1 400 35 11

fax: +386 1 400 35 22

e-mail: gp.mg[@]gov.si

Public Relations:

Stanka Ritonja

Phone: +386 1 400 35 05

fax: +386 1 400 37 09

e-mail: stanka.ritonja[@]gov.si

Alja Tihle

Phone: +386 1 400 33 74,

fax: +386 1 400 37 09

e-mail: alja.tihle[@]gov.si

karmen.jereb[@]gov.si

Gregor Resman

Phone: + 386 1 400 36 04

fax:  +386 1 400 37 09

e-mail; soj.mg[@]gov.si

Secretariat- General

Secretary-General:

Andrej Pagon, MSc

Phone: +386 1 400 35 84

fax: +386 1 /400 35 44

e-mail: andrej.pagon[@]gov.si

Directorates

Enterprise and Competition Directorate

Kotnikova 5, 1000 Ljubljana

Acting Director General: Peter Ribarič, MSc

Phone: +386 1 400 32 00 

fax: +386 1 400 32 62

e-mail: peter.ribaric[@]gov.si

Foreign Economic Relations Directorate

Kotnikova 5, 1000 Ljubljana

Acting Director General: Alfred Killer

Phone: +386 1 400 35 21

fax: +386 1 400 36 11

e-mail: alfred.killer[@]gov.si

Tourism Directorate

Kotnikova 5, 1000 Ljubljana

Director-General: Marjan Hribar

Phone: +386 1 400 32 00

fax: +386 1 400 32 62

e-mail: marjan.hribar[@]gov.si

Internal Market Directorate

Kotnikova 5, 1000 Ljubljana

Director-General: Dr Peter Vrtačnik

Phone: +386 1 400 37 17

fax: +386 1 400 36 22

e-mail: peter.vrtacnik[@]gov.si

Energy Directorate

Dunajska 48, 1000 Ljubljana

Director General: Janez Kopač

Phone: +386 1 400 33 41

fax: +386 1 /400 33 48

e-mail: gp.mg[@]gov.si

Maribor Unit

Vetrinjska ulica 2

Phone: +386 1 220 05 60

fax: +386 2 252 11 89

Main Areas of Activity

The legislative amendment of 2004 expanded the area of responsibility covered by the Ministry of the Economy. It is now divided into six directorates, covering: the internal market, enterprise and competition, foreign economic relations, tourism, energy and electronic communications.

There are also bodies operating within the ministry, performing tasks in the areas of  intellectual property, consumer protection, protection of competition, economic promotion and promotion of foreign investment, market inspection, inspection of electronic communications and mail, and energy sector inspection.

The Enterprise and Competition Directorate works to create the conditions for developing a new concept of quality economic growth, based on ideas, knowledge, information and new  technologies. This concept has also been adopted and incorporated by the National Development Programme, the Slovenian Economic Development Strategy and the Single Programming Document 2007-2013.

The enterprise and competition policy of the Ministry of the Economy is orientated: (1) towards strengthening key factors of success for companies, such as knowledge, innovation, technology and enterprise; (2) towards the formulation of a regulatory system affording sustainable and balanced development of all actors in the market; and (3) towards enhancing the competitive abilities of Slovenian companies through export and direct investments in other countries, and through the inflow of high-quality foreign direct investment.

The ministry implements measures to strengthen key factors of success for companies as part of the measures to increase the competitive abilities of companies, promote enterprise, exploit enterprise opportunities and develop financial instruments. Measures are therefore geared towards strengthening the competitive advantages of companies and towards creating a stimulating environment for the creation of new companies and development of the entire enterprise sector.

One of the key elements of economic development is foreign economic cooperation. The ministry therefore strives to create favourable conditions for increasing international economic cooperation for all companies and for promotion of exports. Special attention is focused on more rapid and effective internationalisation of small and mediumsized enterprises, attracting foreign investments and more effective exercising of Slovenian economic interests in the adoption of EU common trade policy measures and within international and intergovernmental organisations. Through cooperation in the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, as a donor country Slovenia supports the transfer of knowledge and is promoting the development of enterprise and investment in the region.

Tourism is becoming a leading industry on a global scale, involving a multitude of economic activities. It is also an important driving force helping to accelerate regional development, increase the economic value of biodiversity, natural features and cultural heritage, and improve general social welfare. The purpose of the tourism-related activities of the Ministry of the Economy is to create the conditions for achieving the sustainable competitiveness of the tourist industry and to increase the currently available range of tourist activities. One goal is to support the implementation of the destination management model, which encourages providers of tourist services to network and to integrate the auxiliary services available in their environment into their own range of services. Another goal is to use the destination management model and the better options for development offered by the new organization of Slovenian tourism to improve the quality of life and encourage the emergence of new supporting tourist activities which any individual with even the slightest hint of an enterprising spirit and interest could develop.

The basic strategy in the 2007-2013 period focuses on developing networking and cooperation on the joint planning, shaping and marketing of Slovenian tourism following the principles of the public-private partnership on all levels, ranging from the local to the national, and on all levels of Slovenian tourism.

To ensure the achievement of these fundamental strategic goals in the field of tourism development, we hereby define eight basic development policies: tourist destination development policy, human resource development policy, marketing and promotion policy, sustainable and regional development policy, quality assurance policy, introduction of information technology and communications policy, business environment and investment development policy, research development policy.

The Energy Directorate covers the area of energy supply, primarily with electricity and natural gas, and it works for the proper functioning of the market, the planning of reliable and economical supply of the country with energy in normal and extraordinary circumstances, and for the sustainable development of energy systems. In this connection it performs in-depth economic analyses of the energy sector. It works for the development of systemic energy legislation and for the implementation of administrative procedures in the area of energy supply. The directorate performs professional tasks in the area of managing and privatising state property in state-owned energy sector companies. It also covers energy issues in the Government’s international relations. The Energy Directorate actively cooperates with the Energy Agency and with non-governmental organisations operating in the energy sector.

The Energy Directorate has a branch unit in Maribor, which houses the entire Department for Economic Analysis in the Energy Sector, and also a portion of the employees in the Department of Energy Supply and the Department of Energy Planning.

The Electronic Communications Directorate draws up proposals for sectoral laws and implementing regulations in the area of post, electronic communications, digital signatures and related areas. Development strategies are being prepared for the establishment of a high level of competitiveness in the electronic communications markets; development projects are being managed to promote the development of e-communication and projects are being implemented with Structural Funds support. Special attention is focused on monitoring European legislation and its transposition into Slovenia’s legal order. The Electronic Communications Directorate is responsible for managing the companies Telekom Slovenije and Pošta “the Post Office”. It works closely with the Agency for Post and Electronic Communications, which is the independent national regulator for the area of electronic communications and the postal service.

Bodies Affiliated to the Ministry

Competition Protection Office

Kotnikova 28/VII, 1000 Ljubljana

Phone: +386 478 35 97

fax: +386 1 478 36 08

Internet: http://www.uvk.gov.si/en/ http://www.gov.si/uvk 

Director: Jani Soršak

e-mail: jani.sorsak[@]gov.si

The Competition Protection Office performs specific tasks relating to competition rules and carries out the procedures in accordance with the competition regulations.

Consumer Protection Office

Kotnikova 28, 1000 Ljubljana

Phone: +386 1 478 36 18

fax: +386 1 478 34 40

Internet: http://www.uvp.gov.si/en/ 

Director: Mojca Burgar

e-mail: mojca.burgar[@]gov.si

The activities of the Consumer Protection Office are the following: technical and administrative tasks relating to preparation and implementation of the programme for consumer protection in administrative bodies, professional organisations and non-governmental organisations.

Market Inspectorate

Parmova 33, 1000 Ljubljana

Phone: +386 1 280 87 02

fax: +386 1 280 87 40

e-mail: gp.tirs[@]gov.si

Internet: http://www.ti.gov.si/index.php?id=2537&L=1 

Chief Market Inspector: Andrejka Grlić

e-mail: predstojnik.tirs[@]gov.si

The Market Inspectorate directly monitors the implementation of acts and decrees relating to consumer protection, product safety, trade, hospitality, crafts, services, prices, tourism, competition protection and the protection of copyright.

Slovenian Intellectual Property Office

Kotnikova 6, 1000 Ljubljana

Phone: +386 1 478 31 33

fax: +386 1 478 31 11

e-mail: info[@]uil-sipo.si

Internet: http://www.uil-sipo.si/sipo/office/tools/home/ 

Director: Dr Jurij Žurej

The Intellectual Property Office conducts administrative procedures for granting patents and additional safeguarding certificates, registering brands, models, topographies for semi-conductor circuits and geographical denominations except for those which apply to agricultural produce, food, wine and other products from grapes and wine.

With regard to copyright law, it has the authority to issue permits to organisations for the collective management of copyright and related rights, and monitors their enforcement.

It drafts legislation on intellectual copyright and provides relevant information services. The Office also includes a conciliation committee to settle disputes between employers and employees relating to intellectual property rights during employment.

Energy and Mining Inspectorate

Grajska ulica 2, 1410 Zagorje ob Savi

Phone: +386 1 420 44 02

fax: +386 1 433 10 31

By the Minister's Authority: Jože Dimnik, MSc

e-mail: joze.dimnik[@]gov.si

The Energy and Mining Inspectorate performs assignments that involve overseeing implementation of the regulations and general documents regulating electrical and thermal energy. The inspectorate oversees whether legal persons or individuals adhere in their work to the laws, technical regulations, standards and other regulations governing the areas of electrical and thermal energy, the gas and oil pipeline networks and pressurised containers.

Institutions Operating within the Ministry s Area of Activity

Institute for Commodity Reserves

Dunajska 106, 1000 Ljubljana

Phone: +386 1 589 73 00

fax: +386 1 589 73 47

Director: Anton Zakrajšek

The Slovenian Institute for Commodity Reserves is a commercial public institution charged with establishing and utilising the national commodity reserves.

Agency for Compulsory Oil Stocks - ZORD Slovenija

Gospodinjska ulica 8, 1000 Ljubljana

Phone: +386 1 518 89 10

fax: +386 1 518 89 11

Internet: www.zord.org 

Acting Director: Marko Naraločnik

e-mail: marko.naralocnik[@]zord.org

The Agency for Compulsory Oil Stocks is a public economic institute that performs the activity of creating compulsory stocks of crude oil and petroleum products, in order to attain, by the end of 2005, a quantity of reserves that will suffice for 90 days of average consumption in the previous year.

Public Agency of the RS for Entrepreneurship and Foreign Investments (JAPTI)

Dunajska 156, 1000 Ljubljana

Phone: +386 1 589 18 70

fax: +386 1 589 18 77

Internet: www.japti.si 

Director: Igor Plestenjak, MSc

e-mail: japti[@]japti.si

The mission of the Public Agency of the RS for Entrepreneurship and Foreign Investments (JAPTI) is to expand the effective support environment for faster development of the entrepreneurial sector, small businesses and self-employment in Slovenia, and to promote a culture of enterprise. The activities of the JAPTI proceed from the presumption that for successful development businesspersons require assistance in accessing information and consultancy services, accessing markets, obtaining access to partners and associates of high quality, accessing various forms of financing, obtaining premises and space, shortening administrative and other procedures in setting up companies, and expanding their operations.

Slovenian Tourist Board

Dunajska 156, 1000 Ljubljana

Phone: +386 1 589 18 40,

fax: +386 1 589 18 41

Internet: http://www.slovenia.info 

Director: Dimitrij Piciga, MSc

e-mail: info[@]slovenia.info

The Slovenian Tourist Board is the umbrella national tourist organisation. Its activities include:

-promoting Slovenia as a tourist destination, tourist areas, programmes, integrated tourist products of national importance

-collecting, analysing and distributing information on the development of tourism which provides information support for strategic planning, and drafting the annual policies of tourist institutions at all levels and areas of operation

-establishing, maintaining and updating a comprehensive tourist information system

-promoting the integration of tourist services and the entrepreneurial innovation of providers, in particular with regard to developing and introducing new, integrated tourist products of national importance

-promoting partnerships between private and public tourist institutions on a local and regional level by introducing joint cooperation and the partnership financing of common promotional campaigns.

Official Slovenian Tourist Portal www.Slovenia.info  – complete information about Slovenia for travel Europe.

Slovene Enterprise Fund

Trubarjeva 11, 2000 Maribor

Phone: + 386 2 234 12 60

fax: + 386 2 234 12 82

Internet: http://www.podjetniskisklad.si/About.html 

Director: Maja Tomanič - Vidovič, MA

e-mail: maja.tomanic-vidovic[@]podjetniskisklad.si

The Slovene Enterprise Fund is a central public finance institution established as a public financial fund on the basis of the Public Funds Act by the government of the Republic of Slovenia to improve access to financial sources for small and medium-sized companies.

In accordance with the Act Regulating the Supportive Environment for Entrepreneurship it became the Public Fund of the Republic of Slovenia, or the Slovene Enterprise Fund.

Its activities include the regulation of and contribution to the more efficient operation of business, financial leasing, other forms of loans and other financial intermediation.

SIST - Slovenian Institute for Standardization

Šmartinska cesta 140, 1000 Ljubljana

Phone: +386 1 478 30 13

fax: +386 1 478 30 94

Internet: http://www.sist.si 

Director: Marjetka Strle Vidali, MSc

e-mail: sist[@]sist.si

The Slovenian Institute for Standardisation (SIST) is the national standards authority, and is responsible for establishing, managing and maintaining the national system of standardisation in the area of electrical technology, information technology, telecommunications and also in general areas, and represents the national interests in international standardisation organisations (ISO, IEC) and in European standardisation organisations (CEN, CENELEC, ETSI).

SIST was set up by the RS to provide the permanent activity of Slovenian national standardisation in the public interest and to perform proprietary activities in the interest of users. The SIST secretariat, headed by the director, is the professional and administrative service that provides professional and technical support for official bodies and technical working bodies, and performs the marketing of products and services.

SA - Slovenian Accreditation

Šmartinska 140, 1000 Ljubljana

Phone: +386 1 478 30 80

fax: +386 1 478 30 85

Internet: www.gov.si/sa/  

Director: Dr Boštjan Godec

e-mail: bostjan.godec[@]gov.si

Slovenian Accreditation (SA) is a national accreditation institution which establishes and maintains an unbiased and independent system of accreditation in line with the SIST EN ISO/IEC 17011:2004 standard, thereby facilitating the transparency and credibility of accredited bodies for conformity assessment, such as calibration and testing laboratories, and certifying and control bodies.

In the manner and under the terms applicable to the public service, it performs the tasks of the national accreditation service in the Republic of Slovenia in accordance with the Accreditation Act and the Decision on the Establishment of the Public Institute of Slovenian Accreditation. SA operates as an independent service, performing accreditation procedures in such a way as to ensure that accreditations and accredited activities as well as the service itself are recognised as competent and reliable at the national and international level.

SA was established as a public institute by the Republic of Slovenia to perform accreditation procedures in the public interest, so that accreditations and accredited activities as well as the service itself are recognised as competent and reliable both nationally and internationally.

Agency for Radwaste Management (ARAO)

Parmova 53, 1000 Ljubljana

Phone: +386 1 236 32 00

Fax: +386 1 236 32 30

Internet: http://www.arao.si/ 

E-mail: public.arao[@]gov.si

Director: Vladislav Krošelj

The Agency for Radwaste Management (ARAO) is authorized for performing the public service of radioactive waste management, and therefore holds an important role in environmental protection and management. It was established in February 1991 by the Slovenian Government.

The most important missions of the ARAO are the following:

- Providing the conditions for final disposal of radioactive waste.

- Implementation of the public service of radioactive waste management.

- Communication with public, education and providing information.