One of the companies vying for the funds is Lonstroff, the Swiss subsidiary of Japanese Sumitomo, which will start building an elastomer plant near Logatec in May, creating about 200 jobs.

Počivalšek did not want to reveal the names of other companies vying for the funds. He did say that the companies involved came from Slovenia and abroad and that the investments, not including Sumitomo, would create about 500 new jobs.

The ministry has detected an increase in foreign investors' interest in Slovenia. The minister believes this is due to the quality work force and infrastructure.

Počivalšek said that the investments by Magna Steyr and Yaskawa, both of which had also received government incentives, were the first true greenfield investments in Slovenia since the country gained independence in the early 1990s.

Commenting on the labour market, Počivalšek expressed concern that the government recently decided to extend by two years restrictions for Croatian workers. He hopes the National Assembly will take into consideration the interest of the economy when voting on the motion.