Ljubljana - Pressed by the situation related to the Covid-19 pandemic, trade fair and event organisers have established a chamber, whose first move was a proposal for the government to take measures to mitigate the consequences of the pandemic in the industry and to relax the relevant activities in line with its tier system.

The Chamber of Trade Fair and Event Industry, established under the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GSZ) on Wednesday, will be headed by Iztok Bricl, the director of the Gospodarsko Razstavišče fairgrounds in Ljubljana.

The organisation said that it had not been formed solely because of the lockdown and the extremely difficult situation related to the pandemic, but also to point to the importance of the industry for the economy and society as a whole.

As for the epidemic and public health in general, the chamber said it wanted to contribute its share in solving the problem, while expecting that this concern would be recognised also in the form of state aid that other sectors are eligible for.

Prime Minister Janez Janša and Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek have thus been proposed to take mitigation measures and open the relevant activities in line with the government's tier system that is tied to the epidemiological situation.

The proposed measures include one-off assistance for the loss of revenue for between 1 April 2020 and 31 March this year in the amount of 15% of the 2019 turnover or EUR 300,000 per company at the most, and coverage of fixed costs.

For conferences with 80 or more participants, the chamber proposes support amounting to EUR 25 per participant for three years. It also wants to secure incentives for exhibitors to take part in trade fairs in Slovenia in the next two years.

As for concerts that sell at least 200 tickets, it proposes support in the amount of 30% of each ticket sold, but not more than EUR 10 per ticket. This measure would be in force for a period of one year.

The chamber furthermore proposes coverage of the costs of events that are cancelled in line with decisions of the National Public Health Institute up to three months before the scheduled date, or where attendance was reduced by 30% of more.