Embassy of India

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Official Name                 Republic of Slovenia (Republika Slovenija)

Location                            Slovenia shares borders with Hungary to the East, Italy to the West, Croatia to the South and Austria to the North

Capital                                Ljubljana 

Major Cities                     Maribor, Kranj, Ptuj, Celje

Area                                     20,273 sq. kms. (Approximately half the size of Haryana)

Climate                               Mediterranean on coast, continental inland

Population                       Approximately over two million

Ethnicity                            Slovenes 83.06%, Croats 1.81%, Serbs 1.98%, Bosnians 1.10%, Hungarians 0.32%, Albanians 0.31%, Macedonians  0.20%, Roma  0.17%, Montenegrins 0.14%, Italians 0.11% (2002 census)

Language                          Slovene

Time Zone                        Central European Time Zone (IST – 3 ½ hours during March-October and

IST – 4 ½ hours during remaining period of the year.)

STD Code                           + 386

Political structure      

Slovenia is bicameral parliamentary democracy. National Assembly has 90 deputies elected for a term of four years. The last elections for the National Assembly were held in June 2018.  Its current President (Speaker) is Mr. Dejan Židan.

The National Council has 40 elected representatives with a five-year term.  Its present Chairman is Mr. Alojz Kovšca.

The President of Slovenia is elected for five years for a maximum of two terms. The current President Mr. Borut Pahor was elected for a second term on 12 November 2017.  

Government                  

After the 3 June 2018 Parliamentary elections, the Parliament endorsed PM Marjan Šarec’s Cabinet on 13 September 2018. PM Šarec heads a coalition of Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ), Social Democrats (SD), Modern Centre Party (SMC), Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB) and the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS).

The main Cabinet Members are:

Prime Minister                                                  -  Mr. Marjan Šarec

Finance Minister                                              -  Mr. Andrej Bertoncelj

Defence Minister                                              -  Mr. Karl Erjavec

Minister of Education, Science and Sports           - Mr. Jernej Pikalo

Minister of Infrastructure                             - Ms. Alenka Bratušek
Foreign Minister                                               -  Dr. Miro Cerar

Interior Minister                                               -  Mr. Boštjan Poklukar

Membership: Slovenia is a member of UN, OSCE, Council of Europe, IMF, WTO, NATO, OECD and EU.  It joined the European Union in May 2004. Slovenia joined Schengen group of countries in December 2007.

Economic Indicators (All figures in Euro)

Currency                                                           Euro (since January 2007)

GDP Growth Rate                                         2.7% (2015), 2.5% (2016), 5.0% (2017)

GDP (current prices)                                 38.55 bn (2015), 39.76 bn (2016), 43.28 bn (2017)

GDP per capita                                              18,635 (2015), 19,262 (2016), 20,951 (2017)

Inflation                                                            -0.5% (2015), -0.1% (2016), 1.4% (2017)

Unemployment                                              12.30% (2015), 10.8% (2016), 9% (2017)

Global Exports                                              23.94 bn (2015), 24.97 bn (2016), 28.26 (2017)

Global Imports                                              23.30 bn (2015), 24.11 bn (2016), 27.60 (2017)

Principal exports                                        

Motor cars parts & accessories, electric machinery and equipment, machinery and mechanical appliances, pharmaceuticals, plastics and articles thereof, iron and steel and aluminum, turbines, home appliances, organic chemicals, wood and articles thereof.

(Major destination of exports: Germany, Italy, Croatia, Austria, France, Poland, Serbia, Hungary, Russia)

Principal imports                                       

Motor vehicles parts and accessories, electric machinery and mechanical appliances, Petroleum oils, pharmaceuticals, plastics, iron, steel and aluminum and articles thereof,  organic chemicals

(Major sources of imports: Germany, Italy, Austria, Croatia, France, Hungary, Netherlands, China, Poland and Czech Republic)

Bilateral Trade

Trade in goods between Slovenia and India year wise-Euro Million*

*Statistical Office of Republic of Slovenia

Investment between India & Slovenia year-wise in Euro mn.

*Bank of Slovenia

Indian Community:

There is a very small Indian community of about 150, comprising mainly of students and PIOs.

December 2018