Working visit of the President of the Republic of Slovenia to Spain

Santiago de Compostella, Spain, 03/10/2006 | press release

Within the framework of his working visit to Spain, the President of the Republic, Dr Janez Drnovšek, today met in Santiago de Compostella the President of the Spanish autonomous community Galicia, Emilio Pérez Touriño.

During the discussion, President Dr Drnovšek pointed out that Slovenia has always maintained excellent relations with Spain and its autonomous communities, including Galicia. In addition to the traditionally good political relations – King Juan Carlos will receive Dr Drnovšek this October in Madrid on a state visit to Spain – economic co-operation has also increased exceptionally well. The total trade volume already exceeds EUR 730 million, exports by Slovenian companies to Spain have doubled within the last three years, and in 2005, they amounted to as much as EUR 247 million.

On this occasion, President of the autonomous community Pérez Touriño expressed satisfaction with the development of economic co-operation – the biggest Slovenian investment in Spain, made by the company Prevent from Slovenj Gradec, is in Vigo, Galicia – and also underlined the importance of Slovenian pilgrims who go to Santiago on a pilgrimage to visit the tomb of St Jacob the Apostle.