Klobas, who had held several executive posts at motorcycle manufacturer Tomos, a part of corporation Hidria, told reporters that the names of potential candidates would be determined by the next session of the supervisory board, the date of which has not been set yet.

After interviews with the candidates have been conducted, the board will meet again on 26 August to discuss the candidates and expectedly take a final decision. "I believe we'll have the name of the chairman on 26 August," said Klobas.

He was reluctant to comment when asked about the candidates' number and their backgrounds, except for saying that they would not be many and that they were coming from Slovenia.

He said that the selection would not be politically-motivated, but that the supervisory board would appoint "a manager who will be able to best run Luka Koper".

Incumbent chairman Bojan Brank completes his one-year interim term in office on 6 September, but he has recently announced that he will put his name forward to the supervisors for the next five-year term.

Gašpar Gašpar Mišič, state secretary at the prime minister's office, has also confirmed he is seriously considering standing for the top post at the state-owned operator of Slovenia's only commercial port.

The daily Dnevnik reported on Saturday that Vinko Može, the former chairman of airport operator Aerodrom Ljubljana, was aspiring to become chief supervisor and that he would like to install Mišič as CEO.