FDI Summit 2013: California, Catalonia… next stop: “Green Slovenia”
Beautiful forests and untouched nature should not be the only trademarks of green color “in the country on the sunny side of the Alps”. Green is the color of innovation, environmental technology, well-being, self-esteem and security; unfortunately, these have not been felt in Slovenia lately. It is time for change. When we talk about change, we should focus specifically on the mental-psychological aspect of the Slovenian nation.
How should we be admired and respected by others if we do not love ourselves?
At this year’s FDI Summit Slovenia, the main focus was on foreign investment, privatization and corporate governance.
“Not all things that happen are bad and they do not happen in order to make us suffer. Bring us good things, and I believe that after some recent events Slovenia will become more competitive and less corrupt.”, described U.S. Ambassador Joseph A. Mussomeli the current situation in Slovenia using a Sicilian proverb.
Furthermore, Matej Potokar, President of AmCham Slovenia and CEO of Microsoft unit services in Central and Eastern Europe, spoke about recruiting and corporate governance in state-owned enterprises. He stressed the need to end the privatization process because we urgently need a stabile business environment: „For me, the glass is still half full, not half empty”, concluded Potokar.
Sonja Šmuc, Executive Director of the Association Manager, upgraded Potokar’s statement with an interesting perspective – that our glass may be too big. “We are aware what are the appropriate goals and the right tools for the solution, but we really do not want to change,” noticed Šmuc and pointed out that the problem simply lies in our unwillingness to change, because we are afraid.
Egoism and individualism, as the typical patterns of the 21th century, are also rooted in the Slovenian economy, there have been many reasons for that and are complex, but on the other hand, the solutions may be very simple. According to the words of the former Slovenian cross-country skier Petra Majdič we need to face ourselves with the „loosing mentality“, in order to promote competition: “Slovenians are so easily satisfied. For them, the most important is to be better than their neighbor and do not want to be the first – the best.“
Design and innovation centers are placed all over the world, co-founder of the Seaway Japec Jakopin wonders why there can’t be similar things also in Slovenia, which is the place to be and the most beautiful country.
Jure Košir sees “dedication, passion and hard work” as the main tools for the revival of the Slovenian economy.
To sum up, „Beginnings are always difficult and complicated, but it is necessary to go step by step. The global crisis has forced us to change things…”, says Director of Management at BSH Home Appliances, Boštjan Gorjup. Slovenia still has a few advantages which remain attractive to foreign investors, but the problem occurs when we have to give up our ownership of domestic companies, even if we are poor owners.
What is more, „Foreigners are much better promoters of our country then we are.”, notes Boštjan Skalar, Director of public agency SPIRIT .
Iskra Tanjga and Sabina Alijeski , Efnews
Proofread Živa Furlan
Photo: Aljaž Hafner, The Slovenia Times
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