Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo, who addressed the event at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS), presented the reforms Spain has implemented in the aftermath of the financial and economic crisis.

He mentioned the founding of a bad bank, reform of the financial sector, streamlining of the public administration and pension and labour market reforms.

Garcia Margallo pointed out that Spain already managed to recover from the worst; they have improved their productivity and competitiveness, while the export sector has became the most profitable segment of the economy.

The Spanish minister therefore sees many opportunities to reinforce economic cooperation. In his opinion, joint ventures could be a good solution, since both Spain and Slovenia have experience in such cooperation, one in Latin America, the other in the Balkans.

The head of the GZS, Samo Hribar Milič, agreed and added that the two countries could think about cooperating in third markets, since Spanish businesses are successful in Latin America and Slovenian in Southeastern and Eastern Europe. By exchanging experience, both could benefit and penetrate new markets.

Garcia Margallo's opinion was also echoed by the Slovenian Minister of Economic Development and Technology Metod Dragonja, who highlighted energy, environmental technologies, food industry, biotechnology and tourism as some of the areas he deems promising for cooperation.

He was glad to see some companies from both countries have already expanded to the other's market. The minister stressed that the government was trying its best to improve the business environment in Slovenia in order to attract foreign investors.