"Digitalisation brings new business opportunities, encourages innovation, and brings the possibility of higher productivity and cost optimisation," acting SURS director general Genovefa Ružić said as she addressed Tuesday's event, which focuses on digitalisation.

Slovenia is a digitally advanced country, said Ružić, referring to the 2018 Digital Economy and Society Index, which placed Slovenia 15th among EU members, an improvement of two spots in a year.

"Considerable progress has also been recorded in the use of internet services and digital public services. In terms of introducing new technologies in companies, Slovenia placed as high as 8th, which is above the EU average," she pointed out.

Agreeing that digitalisation had penetrated all walks of life, Eurostat director general Mariana Kotzeva said this was a major challenge but also an opportunity for improvement and development.

She also stressed that digital technologies called for constant education and training to acquire new competences to be able to follow digital trends.

Kotzeva praised the SURS, which provides Eurostat with Slovenia's statistics, for successfully following digital trends and for its contribution to development of statistics.

The event was also addressed by Prime Minister Marjan Šarec, who highlighted statisticians' role in implementing digital technologies.

"Statistically speaking, Slovenia will probably never be the world leader in digitalisation, but we are by no means bad," said the prime minister.

He believes though that digitalisation can put Slovenia on the global map. "We have people who are a great asset, people who are also appreciated globally."