Four foreign-owned companies were honoured as the Economy Ministry and the Spirit investment promotion agency handed out the annual FDI Slovenia Awards on 10 October. Henkel Maribor won in the category for best large company, Avantpack in the SME segment, Ekolat for its impact on the economy, and Lumentum in the smart company segment.

Henkel Maribor, a part of the German chemistry giant, has been present in Slovenia for thirty years and employs a 500-strong workforce.

In May last year it launched a €10 million European centre of excellence for hair colouration, its biggest investment to date, which demonstrates its commitment to the development of the local community, the jury said.

Avantpack, a maker of biodegradable bags, launched production nine years ago and in 2019 the Italian packaging giant Pool Pack bought a 30% stake.

The company boasts value added per employee of €106,000 and reported a net profit of €2.4 million on sales of €25 million last year, evidence, according to the jury, that sustainable solutions create a competitive edge.

Ekolat, a dairy specialised in the production of mozzarella that is owned by Italy's second largest mozzarella producer Sabelli, exports 97% of its production, mostly to Italy.

"This is a company that combines local authenticity with international recognition. Their mozzarella is renowned for its exceptional quality and strengthens the Slovenian food brand on foreign markets," according to the jury.

Lumentum, owned by Lumentum Optics Incorporated of the US and honoured in the smart company segment, specialises in the production of optical fibres that are built into industrial lasers.

With ninety employees and value added per employee in excess of €150,000, it is among the most technologically advanced companies in the region, the jury said.

This was the 19th year that the FDI Awards were handed out to recognise the contribution of foreign investors to the Slovenian economy.

Eligibility was restricted to companies in at least 10% foreign ownership whose value added per employee is above the Slovenian average and had at least ten employees last year.

"Foreign investors bring advanced technologies, new know-how and strategic integration in global markets ... Slovenia's goal is not only to attract new investors but to forge long-term strategic partnerships," Spirit director Rok Capl said in address to the ceremony.

Economy Ministry State Secretary Matevž Frangež added that Slovenia is interested in attracting global high-tech companies.

"We wish to position Slovenia as the next European innovation hub for advanced and sustainable technologies and leverage new investments and partners to accelerate Slovenia's transition to an economy based on knowledge and innovation," he said.