They are expected to discuss obstacles to and opportunities for regional cooperation, seen as a key factor for competitiveness of not only states but regions as well.

The main topic of the fourth summit of business executives and political delegations from SE Europe to be held on 1 and 2 June will be cooperation in energy, tourism, transport and infrastructure, food and drinks, ICT and finances.

The event, also highlighting the development of smart cities, will feature European Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc.

The head of the Samit100 managing committee, Iztok Seljak, said it was time for agreements on regional revitalisation and cooperation to be transformed into concrete projects that should boost competitiveness.

Transport should be tackled first, according to him.

The managing committee presented Samit100's agenda to President Borut Pahor today with the latter expressing support to cooperation.

"The presidents of the region give our full support to the project and we will do our part of the job, by harmonising the legislation, tackling political issues...," he said.

The Samit100 project was initiated by the Serbian managers' association SAM, Croatian employers' association HUP and the Managers' Association of Slovenia.

The organisers would like Samit100 to become a permanent platform and a meeting point of respectable business executives and top politicians from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia.

So far, Samit100 meetings have been held in Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia.