The Dekani-based Titus, a part of the namesake UK-based international group, which develops and produces furniture connectors, hinges and damping, automated installation systems, tools and die cast technologies, is the best employer.

Titus is one of the biggest employers in the south-western region, with more than 400 employees in the core company in 2016 and 720 employees in the entire group in Slovenia.

Last year it generated almost EUR 75m in revenue, of which exports amounted for more than 70%, with the company exporting to more than 70 countries. Added value per employee amounted to EUR 61,500.

Director Anđelko Burić said that the award was a "recognition for a foreign investment that has enabled us to become on of the biggest companies in our branch not only in the region".

Isokon from Slovenske Konjice (NE), which is a part of the Austrian ISOSPORT group, received the award for long-term presence in Slovenia.

The company which develops products from environmentally-friendly technical plastics was founded in 1955, while the foreign investor entered the ownership in 1995. It has been growing ever since and has become one of the leading companies in the field.

Isokon, which employs 160 people, increased the number of employees by 12% in 2016. Last year it generated EUR 29.2m in revenue, including 94% with exports, and made a EUR 3m net profit. Added value per employee is EUR 52,500.

Thanking the award jury for the recognition, Uroš Žnidarič of Isokon said that the company was driven by the "passion for business, passion to be better every day and to be better than others".

LPKF from Naklo, which is a part of the LPKF Laser & Electronics group from Germany, is the winner of the award for research and development orientation and business results.

LPKF is among the largest global suppliers of equipment for rapid prototyping in electronics. Last year it generated EUR 14.7m in revenue, up 17% year-on-year. It employs almost 100 people, with added value per employee standing at EUR 70,000.

Accepting the award, Boštjan Pečnik of LPKF said that this would not be possible without the company's team of experts, adding that "innovation drives us forwards and gives us hope for the future".

Kuehne + Nagel, headquartered at the Ljubljana airport as part of the Kuehne + Nagel International group from Austria, is the winner in the best logistics centre category.

Established in 2005, it provides logistics services in maritime, air and road transport, as well as contract logistics, integrated logistics and customs services.

Last year, Kuehne + Nagel generated EUR 28m in revenue. It currently employs more than 50 workers, with added value per employee standing at almost EUR 75,000.

Accepting the award as a "surprise", Borut Vrviščar of the company announced the "biggest pharmaceutical distribution centre on the planet", which will boost what has been done in Slovenia on the logistics market.

As part of the national strategy for attracting foreign direct investments, the Invest Slovenia FDI Awards have been conferred by SPIRIT and the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology.

Aleš Cantarutti, a state secretary at the ministry, noted that Slovenia was a "country with all active ingredients for foreign investments", adding that the government policy was to make Slovenia a location of choice.

In addition to the four award winners, Cantarutti thanked dozens of other companies for investing in Slovenia and raising the profile of the country as an investment destination.

"Thank you for having deciding on Slovenia, for trusting us, and we'll do everything to make you feel at home in Slovenia," Cantarutti said.