Slovenian prime minister begins visit to India

Slovenia Prime Minister Borut Pahor, who is on a four-day visit to India, was in Mumbai on Monday. He was received by governor K Sankarnarayanan who hosted a lunch for him attended by several leaders and dignitaries.  Pahor will be in Delhi on Tuesday and Bangalore on Wednesday.

The Slovenia PM is in India seeking investment for his country. The trade volume between India and Slovenia stood at 247 million Euro in 2010 which is an increase of 15% over 2009 trade.
Slovenia imported goods worth 175 million Euro while exporting products worth 72 million Euro comprising high quality paper for currency notes among other items.

Smarting from rising budget deficit and continued high public spending in the wake of the global recession, the export-driven Slovenian economy is now keen to move beyond its Europe-centric trade, to do more business with India and China.

The 47-year-old is being accompanied by a big delegation of about 50 business and political leaders including four cabinet ministers and a few state secretaries.

Slovenia, which was once part of Yugoslavia, became independent in 1991 and became member of the European Union in 2004.