Located in the vicinity of the prestigious Triennale Milano exhibition, the Slovenia Design show hopes to "promote Slovenian know-how and connect companies".

A joint project of several Slovenian institutions and Italian partners, the exhibition will feature some of Slovenia's finest products which have received design or innovation awards at home or abroad.

Economy Ministry official Aleš Cantarutti told the press on Friday that he hoped the pilot project would be followed by similar endeavours next year.

Speaking of plans to make the wood industry one of the fastest growing industries in Slovenia, the head of the ministry's wood directorate Jože Prikeržnik admitted that design and marketing had been the weakest links.

Gorazd Mihelič of the SPIRIT investment promotion agency said the focus was on small and medium-sized companies, on "connecting them and making them more successful together".

Matej Feguš, whose furniture design firm Donar is among those selected for the exhibition, was also on hand, noting how difficult it is for small companies to promote their products.

Pointing to successful practice in this filed by Scandinavian countries, Feguš argued in favour of an agency for planning and design and stressed the need for a long-term strategy.