"We want to turn this meeting into an event known internationally at which companies get an opportunity to meet other companies, make contacts and seize business opportunities," said Franci Bratkovič of the Novo Mesto Development Centre.

Organised by seven regional development agencies in cooperation with the SPIRIT agency and the Economy Ministry, the meeting hosts sizeable delegations from Austria, Turkey, Croatia, the UK, France, Italy and Serbia.

The companies represented come from various fields, most notably from metalworking, the automotive industry and the ICT. Among Slovenian-based companies the Renault car assembly plant Revoz and Japan's robotics company Yaskawa will be represented.

According to Bratkovič, such events are crucial for the development of small and medium sized companies, because they help them make contact with big companies.

Companies are making contacts at meetings scheduled beforehand and at networking receptions as part of the forum.