Prime Minister Miro Cerar said aid would be directed in particular at underdeveloped areas such as Pokolpje, a sparsely populated area along the Kolpa river.

To achieve that, transport infrastructure will be improved, in particular with "intensive steps" towards the construction of the third development axis, he said in reference to a north-south expressway that has been over a decade in the making.

The regional development programme for Pokolpje, worth EUR 40m through 2020, is seen by the government as a key financial instrument for the region.

Additionally, the government plans to examine measures to promote competitiveness and introduce new incentives for investors, the Government Communications Office said.