"We wish to boost business cooperation with the Salzburg province, strengthen strategic partnerships and enable Slovenian suppliers to enter retail chains that are present there," Cantarutti was quoted as saying by the ministry.

The state secretary also pointed to the role of Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek in the agreement between Austrian investor Palfinger, the Maribor utility company and the Maribor municipality, which will enable the Austrian company to buy a municipal plot to expand its production.

Highlighting high-tech industries, logistics and transport, and the wood industry as the areas where cooperation could be deepened, the officials also pinpointed some concrete possibilities for cooperation.

The Slovenian wood industry could cooperate with wood cluster Holzcluster Salzburg, while the Slovenian Wood Directorate is to exchange best practices with its Austrian counterparts, they agreed.

Salzburg is the sixth most important Slovenia's partner, according to Austria's statistics. It is considered one of the most innovative and competitive European regions with a low unemployment rate and high standard of living.