Since the jobs will be in high-tech, the company has already established contact with the Ljubljana Faculty of Engineering, because they wish to train students for work with their equipment and machines.

According to Novo Meko co-owner Adriana Zaccone, the main reasons for choosing Slovenia was its location, enabling the company to be closer to its customers in Europe, and the highly trained Slovenian engineers, who also speak foreign languages.

"Vojnik is near the motorway, Austria and Hungary are close by. It is is central Slovenia and all potential suppliers are at hand," she explained the decision to set up the 1500-square-metre plant, which already employs 15 people, in Vojnik.

Novo Meko was set up in the city of Celje three years ago by Italian companies Demo Meko Technology and Avio-Composite, but it has only had an engineering office until now.

Zaccone said that the company wished to get as many suppliers of materials in Slovenia, adding that they were already cooperating with Slovenian sports goods maker Elan.