The cooperation agreement was signed on Wednesday in Klagenfurt by the Slovenian Business Association (SGZ) from this Austrian city and the Slovenian Regional Business Association (SDGZ) from Trieste, the SGZ said in a press release.

The SGZ is an umbrella business organisation of the Slovenian minority in Carinthia, while the SDGZ brings together companies run by members of the Slovenian minority in Italy.

The two organisations have been engaged in cooperation for many years, so signing a cooperation agreement was a logical next step, according to the SGZ.

They have worked together to organise a number of events and festivals, as well as joint appearances at business fairs.

The signing ceremony was held at the furniture retail company Rutar, which has recently entered the Italian market, and was attended by Minister for Slovenians Abroad Gorazd Žmavc.

The Slovenian minister welcomed the cooperation agreement, stressing its importance for the Alps-Adriatic region, according to the SGZ.

The agreement was signed by the SGZ president and vice-president, Benjamin Wakounig and Felix Wieser, respectively, and the SDGZ president and vice-president, Nicola Tenze and Alfredo Oberdan.