Analysis

EBRD adopts new country strategy for Slovenia

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has adopted a new country strategy for Slovenia for the period 2019-2024. The new plan will focus on areas and products where market instruments are scarce, including equity financing, structured debt, capital market instruments and cross-border investments.

Slovenia ranks among the top performers in the EBRD’s Assessment of Transition Qualities. The economy has recorded a steady recovery since the 2012-2013 crisis and continues to expand on the back of growing investment, private consumption and exports.

But despite the relatively advanced state of Slovenia’s economic development, structural weaknesses persist. Weak corporate governance, relatively high level of state involvement, insufficiently flexible labour market, skills mismatches and strong corporate reliance on bank financing hamper Slovenia’s global competitiveness and convergence with the economically-advanced EU comparators.

The EBRD is set to boost competitiveness and good governance by championing privatisations, while deploying cutting-edge instruments to support private companies. Additionally it will support the transition to a green economy by promoting new green technologies.