Family businesses are Slovenia's pride with their ways, reliability and development, the PM said in reference to this year's main topic.

By respecting and encouraging the tradition of family business, a vision for the future is developed, Cerar told the event, organised by the Slovenian World Congress, a diaspora organisation, in collaboration with several educational institutions.

The government has the same vision - "on the one hand it always respects tradition and at the same time it looks forward".

The importance of family businesses was also highlighted by Slovenian World Congress president Boris Pleskovič, who added that Slovenia's lagging behind in competitiveness and business atmosphere led to brain drain.

Young people were also in the focus of IJS head Jadran Lenarčič's address, who however said that while there were not enough opportunities for them at home, young people were not leaving empty handed, but equipped "with knowledge, zest, creativity and youth".

According to him, the state failed in the past to do everything to create bridges between Slovenian scientists at home and abroad, so that their talents could benefit the country.

Head of the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) Samo Hribar Milič was somewhat more optimistic: "We are right to be critical, but the Slovenian economy has never before been this successful and efficient."

Education, Science and Sport Minister Maja Makovec Brenčič meanwhile highlighted cooperation between education and business. A person's sovereignty is based on knowledge, and the "more we know how to transfer it, enrich it and share it, the better off Slovenia and the world as a whole will be".

The conference will examine until tomorrow four main topics: the importance of family companies, the link between science and business, the incorporation of new companies, and studies and good practices of Slovenian companies at home and abroad.