The Slovenia Times

Murska Sobota gets Slovenia's Expo 2015 pavilion

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It was handed over to the city at Friday's ceremony attended by Prime Minister Miro Cerar and Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek.

The government decided to place the pavilion in Murska Sobota as part of the Door to Slovenia - Door to Pomurje project, aimed at boosting business of the Pomurje region and making it more visible to foreign investors.

Murska Sobota won the pavilion against the municipalities of Ptuj, Zagorje ob Savi, Kočevje and Ajdovščina after a call for applications was published in spring. "Their project was well-prepared, and involves other municipalities in Pomurje and across the border," the economy minister explained the government's decision.

"Expo 2015 was a big success for Slovenia, because we surpassed all expectations with this pavilion. It was a story of success," said Cerar at the ceremony.

The pavilion is situated between the Pomurje motorway and the Sobota Lake, which the municipality hopes to turn into a business, tourism and sport centre of the region.

The pavilion will be turned into a business hub, giving out information on business opportunities in Pomurje and Slovenia to businessmen and potential investors. It will promote Slovenia as a green, active and healthy destination by focusing on its main industries, important local companies and their products.

Murska Sobota expects the building to attract many tourists. As Aleksander Jevšek, the mayor of Murska Sobota, put it: "We want to embrace the passengers driving on our motorway and bring them to our countryside. We have a lot to offer."

They plan to use the pavilion as an exhibition space for local artists and a restaurant, offering local specialities, while part of it is to be turned into an archaeological museum, exhibiting important archaeological discoveries made during the Pomurje motorway construction.

At the ceremony, Minister Počivalšek emphasized that he did not doubt the region will know how to take advantage of this opportunity and set up the pavilion as soon as possible. "We are giving Slovenia's pride to you," he added.

Jevšek estimates that the pavilion could open for the public by the end of 2017.

The pavilion, designed by SoNo Architects and constructed by Lumar IG, is made mostly of wood and glass and is meant to represent the Slovenian landscape. Its futuristic shape highlights Slovenia's rich forest resources as well as its commitment to modern building trends.

The costs of setting up and adapting the pavilion to its new use are estimated at 1.62 million of euros, with the government chipping in 500,000 for its erection.

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