President Pahor and Bavarian Minister-President Seehofer in favour of stronger multifaceted cooperation

The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, today continues his visit to south Germany in Munich, the capital of Bavaria. He first met with the Minister-President of the Free State of Bavaria, Mr Horst Seehofer.

The President and his delegation of selected Slovenian businessmen are promoting green technologies with this visit. Slovenia would like to present itself to its largest trade partner as a country with an innovative environment, advocating sustainable development and contributing its share to even the most advanced high-tech industries. During his official visit President Pahor is traveling in vehicles with a low or zero carbon footprint. The message conveyed by this visit is thus not limited to high-tech industries, but also includes the environment.

Mr Pahor and Mr Seehofer also discussed bilateral cooperation, agreeing that relations between Slovenia and Bavaria are defined by their geographical proximity, historical ties and above all business contacts. The Slovenian automotive industry is the strongest link between the Slovenian and German economies, and many Slovenian companies have branches in Bavaria, concluded Mr Pahor and his Bavarian host, expressing their commitment to intensifying political relations.

President Pahor pointed out that Germany is a strategic, political and economic partner of Slovenia, which means that contacts at the federal as well as regional levels play an important role. He recalled the Declaration on enhanced cooperation in areas of common interest concluded between Slovenia and the Federal Republic of Germany in 2011. It envisages intensified bilateral cooperation, primarily regular political dialogue and consultations on topical European Union affairs and foreign policy issues between the competent ministries of the two countries. The Declaration also fosters cooperation between their parliaments and the further strengthening of close economic relations, including commerce. Trade in goods with Bavaria totalled 1.6 billion euros last year, ranking Bavaria third among German states after Baden-Württemberg with 2.3 billion and North Rhine-Westphalia with 1.7 billion, while the volume of trade with Germany reached almost 9 billion euros.

Mr Pahor and Mr Seehofer were of the opinion that also cultural exchange between Slovenia and Germany is rich. The current European Union issues, including the increasing problem of migration, which is becoming a serious challenge for the Union, were also on the agenda. They stressed that it is important to preserve the European Union as it provides peace and security across the European continent.


Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

President Pahor invited Mr Seehofer to visit Slovenia – possibly arriving in a Pipistrel electric plane, a product of Slovenian know-how, thereby extending the common green thread running through the programme of this visit, which pays special attention to environmental themes.

One of the ways to strengthen the multifaceted cooperation between Munich and Ljubljana or Bavaria and Slovenia would be a “Bavarian Day” – an event planned for next year when Ljubljana will be proclaimed the European Green Capital – was agreed upon at the meeting and announced by Mr Pahor in a press statement. “It overlaps with the concept of sustainable development and the desire for cooperation; we will organise a political meeting, a business conference, a cultural event and university consultations on that day. I have the feeling that my visit comes at the right time as Slovenia is recovering economically and Bavaria would like to rebuild trust in our future,” added President Pahor.

“We would like to further strengthen and deepen cooperation between Slovenia and Bavaria. My objective is that we again become Slovenia’s number one economic partner,” said Mr Seehofer.

Then he participated in a business conference and a gathering of business representatives from Slovenia and Bavaria. In his introductory address, Mr Pahor pointed out that since Germany was Slovenia’s most important trade partner and nearly one-fifth of all foreign trade was with Bavaria, green technologies provide new opportunities. In addition to an increase in exports and goods trade, Slovenia would like to attract more foreign investors as it creates a more competitive business environment and introduces more user-friendly administrative procedures. Slovenia has great interest in the rich experience of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria with the dual or undergraduate system of vocational education and training for young people. This was also discussed by Mr Pahor and Mr Gauck when the German Federal President came to Slovenia. The recent economic crisis has revealed that the dual education system has to a large extent helped reduce youth unemployment.

At the BMW headquarters, President Pahor was received by Dr Klaus Draeger, a member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, and other BMW managers. In the talks they mentioned the important role of Slovenian suppliers in BMW production as, according to BMW management, they represent a significant share therein.

Following his meeting with the Mayor of Munich, Mr Dieter Reiter, President Pahor will attend the Slovenian Evening, an event celebrating Slovenia’s Statehood Day.

Before the President’s official visit to Bavaria, the Slovenian Consul General to Munich, Mr Jožef Keček, laid a wreath at the memorial to Slovenian artist Anton Ažbe. Born in 1856 in Dolenčice pri Škofji Loki in Slovenia, he began his painting studies in 1882 in Vienna and continued in Munich. Realism, muted tones and melancholy are the defining characteristics of his work. Anton Ažbe remains the most renowned Slovenian in the history of painting. In 1891, the painter and great teacher opened his own school of painting in Munich, where he taught young painters from Europe and America the art of drawing and painting. Among his students were Jakopič, Jama and Kandinski. The Black Woman is one of his most famous paintings. In 2004, a bronze bust of the painter was placed in Leopoldpark in Munich. His bust also stands in front of a primary school in Škofja Loka.