Doing business

Slovenia

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Setting up a company | FDI in figures | Why you should choose to invest | Procedures relative to foreign investment | Finding assistance for further information

Setting up a company

Types of companies and capital (max/min)	Number of partners/shareholders and liability
Limited Liability Company (d.o.o) Minimum EUR 7,500	No minimum Liability is limited to the amount of capital contributed.
Joint-stock company (d.d.) Minimum EUR 25,000	No minimum Liability is limited to the amount of capital contributed.
General Partnership (d.n.o.) No minimum	Minimum 2 shareholders Shareholders are liable with all their assets.
Limited Partnership (k.d.) No minimum	No minimum A general partner is fully liable with all the assets and a limited partner is not liable for the partnership obligation.
Sole trader (s.p.) No minimum	Only one individual (physical person only, no companies) can register it. The individual is liable with all the assets for the activities of a sole trader.

Business setup procedures

Setting up a company	Slovenia	Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Procedures (number)	2.0	6.3
Time (days)	6.0	16.3

Source: Doing Business.

For further information: Consult Doing Business Website, to know about procedures to start a Business in Slovenia.
Trade Register
The competent organization: A newly established company is entered into the court register and tax register. The data are then automatically transfered also to business register and statistic office. Actually, in 2008 the court register has practically become a business register which is fully maintained by the agency called AJPES.

Company registration can be done most appropriately and completely at one of the notary offices. A simple, free of charge procedure is available even on the internet (in Slovene only) or at many "e-VEM" one-stop service centers but only when using a pre-print standardized Company Statute/Act form.

FDI in figures

Foreign Direct Investment	2008	2009	2010
FDI inward flow (millions USD)	1,924	-582	834
FDI stock (millions USD)	15,303.7	15,126.6	15,022.1
Performance Index*, ranking on 141 economies	77	138	-
Potential Index**, ranking on 141 economies	34	-	-
Number of Greenfield investments***	23	11	-
FDI inwards (in % of GFCF****)	12.2	10.4	-
FDI stock (in % of GDP)	28.1	31.4	-

Source:

Note: * The UNCTAD Inward FDI Performance index is based on a ratio of the country's share in global FDI inflows and its share in global GDP. ** The UNCTAD Inward FDI Potential index is based on 12 economic and structural variables such as GDP, foreign trade, FDI, infrastructures, energy use, R&D, education, country risk. *** Green field investments are a form of foreign direct investment where a parent company starts a new venture in a foreign country by constructing new operational facilities from the ground up. **** Gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) measures the value of additions to fixed assets purchased by business, government and households less disposals of fixed assets sold off or scrapped.

Why you should choose to invest Slovenia

Strong points: Slovenia has many strong points, among them:
- An easy access to regional markets, being geographically located in the center of Europe;
- A qualified workforce;
- A good quality of life;
- Economic and political stability:
- Quality infrastructure
Weak points: Slovenia still has to face several challenges, among them:
- Low mobility of workforce;
- High social security contributions from salaries;
- A small domestic market;
- A strong exposure to global economic gyration due to the country's openness.
Government measures to motivate or restrict FDI: Slovenia has an ambivalent attitude towards FDI: on one hand, the country would like to be open to investment while on the other, it remains very cautious regarding foreign investors. Therefore, the government FDI cost-sharing grant scheme is trying to set up measures that will have a positive effect in the creation of jobs, knowledge and technology transfer, improvement in the regional development and it could stimulate the alliance between Slovenian companies and foreign investment.
Concessions belonging to the state are available for investments of more than 0.5 million Euros in the sectors of industry, strategic services (customer service centers, systems and retail business, regional company headquarters), research and development. The type of investment requested the most is high technologies known as "green" technology.
The Public Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Entrepreneurship and Foreign Investments (JAPTI) has prepared a program for promoting the growth of companies in foreign ownership or mixed. The main objective of the program is to stimulate the FDI and to create new jobs in the context of the current economic crisis.

Procedures relative to foreign investment

Acquisition of holdings: A majority holding interest in the capital of a local company is legal in Slovenia.
Obligation to declare: Slovenia has a fully liberalized foreign investment regime - foreign investments enjoy full national treatment.
Competent organization for the declaration
Requests for specific authorizations: The only exception to the principle of full national treatment relates to the right of branches of foreign companies originating in non-EU member states to obtain ownership over real estate in Slovenia. Foreign investment in the companies related to the production and trade of armaments is subject to the prior approval of the government. For more details click here.

Finding assistance for further information

Investment aid agency: Invest Slovenia
Other useful resources