In his address to the award ceremony, OZS boss Branko Meh said that small businesses in Slovenia were doing well, but warned that this did not mean that success was self-evident.

Small businesses are of great importance for Slovenia's economy, said Meh and expressed the wish that everybody would come to realise this.

He expressed satisfaction that legislation changes had recently been filed to introduce a state secretary in charge of small businesses at the Economic Development and Technology Ministry. He thanked the government for recognising the importance of this sector.

Prime Minister Marjan Šarec, who also attended the event, said that all of the problems presented by the OZS can be resolved "if we are able to talk to each other".

The ceremony was also attended by Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek, Infrastructure Minister Alenka Bratušek, Environment and Spatial Planing Minister Jure Leben, Agriculture Minister Aleksandra Pivec, Public Administration Minister Rudi Medved and Minister for Slovenians Abroad Peter J. Česnik.

Apart from awards for the best crafts person and the best entrepreneur, the OZS also gave out an award to the oldest entrepreneur of the year, which went to Franci Ažman, the owner of a family-owned logistics and restaurant business.