Lek is trying to get its parent group Sandoz, owned by Swiss Novartis, to join in in its plans for the investment that would add 150 new jobs at the Prevalje branch, which now employs over 300 people.

The minister, who visited the northern Koroško region on Wednesday, said that the state would cooperate within its capabilities with Lek to convince Sandoz to invest.

However, Lek "must first put forward a concrete proposal for the investment" so that the state can then decide, added the minister, who believes a decision will be made in a month or two.

"We believe that the state will do everything needed to make the investment come true."