In her meeting with Solberg, Bratušek expressed the wish for the two countries to upgrade their good political relations with stronger economic cooperation, Bratušek's office said in a press release.

The office meanwhile cited Solberg as saying that the meeting focused on economic challenges and challenges concerning Ukraine and the Western Balkans. She too called for upgrading bilateral relations.

Bratušek admired the Scandinavian model of welfare state, which she said could "serve as a model and proof to Slovenia that a country can be economically successful and still be a welfare state".

The visit also featured a conference designed to raise interest in Slovenian companies that have been slated for privatisation and present other investment opportunities in the country. Four such events were held in other European cities last year.

In her address to the conference, Bratušek said that Slovenia was looking for investment partners who would be also willing to invest in companies' development. She cited the sale of laser maker Fotona and coatings manufacturer Helios as proof that Slovenia was serious about privatisation and open to FDI.

Underscoring that privatisation and economic recovery were top priorities of her government, Bratušek also spoke about the improved macroeconomic indicators and the general economic situation in Slovenia in recent months.

With the two companies sold, 12 companies and a bank remain on the government's priority list for privatisation. Details of the process were presented to prospective Norwegian investors by Minister of Economic Development and Technology Metod Dragonja and a member of the board of the state-run SOD fund.

Norwegian government officials meanwhile presented the country's experience with privatisation.

Bratušek, who met representatives of the Slovenian community in Norway at the outset of her visit to Oslo on Tuesday, also invited PM Solberg to a return visit to Slovenia.

The merchandise trade between Slovenia and Norway amounted to EUR 96.8m last year, of which EUR 63.6m represented Slovenian exports. These comprise mainly machinery, furniture and cars, while imports are chiefly ore, metals, weapons and ammunition, figures from Slovenia's Statistics Office show.