"This will also enhance business cooperation, at the European as well as international level," Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek told a conference in Ljubljana on Friday dedicated to the opportunities of ESA membership.

Slovenia and the ESA signed an agreement on associated membership in the summer. The law ratifying the agreement has already been adopted by the government and is expected to be rubber-stamped by parliament soon.

Počivalšek said the status would allow Slovenian companies to diversify their space technology portfolios, which would create new jobs and improve competitiveness.

The experience and references they acquire would "open opportunities for expansion to new markets," he opined.

Slovenia has been a participating ESA country since late-2010. Since then 25 projects worth about EUR 4.5m have been carried out in Slovenia, according to Počivalšek.

Geraldine Naja, the head of the ESA Industrial Policy and Audit Department, said Slovenia would be able to cooperate in all ESA programmes once the associated membership was ratified.

Slovenia has so far mainly worked on academic projects in the framework of ESA, though some were also industry-focused.

Parliamentary Speaker Milan Brglez said he was convinced that the ratification would sail through parliament smoothly.