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Getting Started in Slovenia
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9 MINUTE READ

Please visit the trade.gov page on Slovenia for an overview of economic conditions and opportunities in the region.

 

I – Exporting to Slovenia

Getting Started

If you are considering doing business in Slovenia, here are some steps you may wish to consider as you get started:

1. Visit Slovenia trade.gov page to get an overview of economic conditions and opportunities. Access the U.S. Commercial Service Market Research Library containing more than 100,000 industry and country-specific market reports, authored by our specialists working in overseas posts.

2. Contact Information and Links for Assistance:

  • Contact your local U.S. Export Assistance Center for advice and support on exporting to Slovenia.
  • Contact your local Small Business Development Center (SBDCs)
    Starting a business can be a challenge, but there is help for you in your area. Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) are partnerships primarily between the government and colleges/universities administered by the Small Business Administration and aims at giving educational services for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.
  • Contact in-country business support organizations such as the American Chamber of Commerce in Slovenia – AmCham Slovenia.
  • Make use of business matchmaking services: Whether you’re looking to make your first export sale or expand your business in this market, the U.S. Commercial Service in Vienna offers trade counseling, market intelligence, business matchmaking, and commercial diplomacy  you need to connect with lucrative business opportunities in Slovenia and neighboring countries.


II – Investing in Slovenia

This section provides information for current and potential investors in Slovenia.

1. Potential investors: Getting Started. 

If you are considering investment in Slovenia, here are some steps you may wish to consider as you get started:

  • Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program: if you are planning a visit to consider investment, enroll in STEP to receive emergency messages from the embassy and consider letting us know by sending an email to DoingBusinessInSlovenia@state.gov.
  • Review the Department of Commerce’s Country Commercial Guides for the latest analysis of the economic and political conditions in Slovenia.
  • Visit host country resources, such as the Slovenian Public Agency for the Promotion of Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Development, Investment and Tourism – SPIRIT.
  • Contact local U.S. business support organizations, such as the American Chamber of Commerce in Slovenia  – AmCham Slovenia.
  • Subscribe to our embassy Facebook page or Twitter feed.

2. Current Investors: Staying Connected

If you are a current U.S. investor in Slovenia, the U.S. Embassy wants to stay in touch. Here are a few steps you can take to keep the channels of communication open:

  • Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program: if you are based in or travel to Slovenia,, enroll in STEP to receive emergency messages from the embassy and consider reaching out to DoingBusinessInSlovenia@state.gov.
  • Add Commercial and Agricultural Specialists to your mailing lists: we are always happy to stay informed. Send emails to contact address at the top of this page.
  • Subscribe to our embassy Facebook page or Twitter.
  • Set up a meeting with our economic or commercial team to discuss any issues that arise. Reach out to DoingBusinessInSlovenia@state.gov.

3. Working in Slovenia

In this section you will find information on business visas, travel advisories, and anti-corruption tools.

Business Visas

For information on obtaining a visa to visit Slovenia, visit the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

Travel Advisories

Make sure to check the current State Department travel advisory for Slovenia. 

FCPA

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is an important anti-corruption tool designed to discourage corrupt business practices in favor of free and fair markets. The FCPA prohibits promising, offering, giving or authorizing giving anything of value to a foreign government official where the purpose is to obtain or retain business. These prohibitions apply to U.S. persons, both individuals and companies, and companies that are listed on U.S. exchanges. The statute also requires companies publicly traded in the U.S. to keep accurate books and records and implement appropriate internal controls.

More information on the FCPA can be found here:  http://www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa/

A party to a transaction seeking to know whether a proposed course of conduct would violate the FCPA can take advantage of the opinion procedure established by the statue. Within 30 days of receiving a description of a proposed course of conduct in writing, the Attorney General will provide the party with a written opinion on whether the proposed conduct would violate the FCPA. Not only do opinions provide the requesting party with a rebuttable presumption that the conduct does not violate the FCPA, but DOJ publishes past opinions which can provide guidance for other companies facing similar situations.

More information on the DOJ opinion procedure can be found here:
https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/fcpa-opinions

Economic Opportunity, Evergreen