The minister told the press on Tuesday that the government would award an EUR 18.61m incentive to Magna Steyr for the paint shop in the Hoče-Slivnica municipality, which was expected to bring 400 jobs.

The investor will also sign a contract with which it will be committed to fulfil all commitments related to environmental protection, Počivalšek said in a statement on the sidelines of the Celje Trade Fair.

Prime Minister Miro Cerar added that "I'm happy that all obstacles were removed yesterday for the major investment by Magna, which will open numerous jobs". He is convinced that the investment will bring much-needed development to the troubled area.

Počivalšek is happy that the government had reached an agreement with local farmers on replacement agricultural land. "We are also on the right path for doing so for the second and third phase of the investment", he assessed.

With no complaints having been filed against the environmental consent issued by the Environment Agency, conditions have been met for the issuing of a building permit.

According to the minister, the permit is expected to be issued by the beginning of October, when the investor is about to start first works related to the project.