Exporting guide to Slovenia
Strong and growing economy
Slovenia’s economy is growing strongly and its GDP grew by 4.5% in 2018 (IMF, 2018). Purchasing power should continue to grow due to increasing employment, growing disposable income and better access to bank lending.
Access to markets
Slovenia is a gateway to south eastern European markets due to its geographical position. It has strong historical links with the neighbouring markets of Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, which results in cultural and linguistic connections as well as well-connected infrastructure.
Ease for UK businesses
English is widely spoken in Slovenia and British quality goods and services are well received. Furthermore, it has similar business, legal and technical standards to the UK, making it a friendly market for UK businesses. 92% of Slovenians speak at least 2 foreign languages.
Ease of doing business
37th
out of 190 countries (World Bank, 2019)
Currency
Euro
Business languages
Slovene, English
You may need a translator
GDP per capita
$26,234
UK is $42,558 (IMF, 2018)
Economic growth
2.4%
(IMF, 2019)
Time zone
GMT +2
Opportunities for exporters
There are opportunities for UK companies across a broad range of industries. Our trade advisers in Slovenia have identified particular opportunities for UK businesses in the following sectors.
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Infrastructure
There are various infrastructure projects announced that will be continuing until 2030, as an estimate. These will present potential opportunities for UK companies.
Divaca-Koper line
There is a project to build a second railway track on the Divaca-Koper line, which commenced in March 2019. There are opportunities for UK companies, mostly in the supply of equipment. The project will be funded by the Slovenian Government, the EU and European Investment Bank.
Third development axis
Slovenia is building a motorway connecting Austria and Croatia called the third development axis. This project has a government financial guarantee. This will project an opportunity for UK engineering companies and equipment supply. This project commenced in 2019 and is forecast to conclude in 2026.
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Nuclear
Slovenia’s sole nuclear power plant at Krško, shared with neighbouring Croatia, will decommission in 2043. Slovenia is due to build a second block at the Krško power plant in the next 10 years, offering opportunities for British companies in the market.
Krško's second block
The Krško project offers great opportunities for British nuclear supply chains. The Department for International Trade is continuously working on presenting British expertise in Slovenia and has good contacts in the nuclear sector.
Vrbina nuclear waste landfill
Slovenia's Minister of Infrastructure has declared Slovenia will proceed with a nuclear waste landfill in Vrbina. The preparatory work has already been carried out and and construction should be complete by 2025.
Doing business in Slovenia
Preparing to export
Taxation
InvestSlovenia provides detailed information on all applicable taxes in Slovenia.
VAT
If you’re registered for VAT in the UK, it may be possible to zero-rate the goods you export to Slovenia, provided certain conditions are met.
VAT is applied at 22% on goods and services in Slovenia. A reduced rate of 9.5% can also be applied on some goods.
For more information on VAT in Slovenia, please visit their Financial Administration website.
Corporate Tax
The corporate income tax rate is set at 17%. Tax relief is available for:
- research and development (R&D) investment (100%)
- investment in equipment and other long-term assets (40%)
Slovenia’s capital gains tax is set at between 0 and 25% (depending on a holding period).
Standards and technical regulations
Products and packaging should meet EU standards.
Local product law may vary. The Slovenian Institute for Standardization (website in Slovenian) has responsibility for standards.
Product information on a label must be in Slovenian. It is mandatory that goods are labelled with composition, country of origin, size, and care instructions.
Trade barriers
Check for any reported barriers to trading with Slovenia.
Report any trade barriers that are affecting your business so we can help fix them.
Operating in Slovenia
Intellectual property
As a first step, we advise you to speak to an intellectual property lawyer if you think you need patent protection when exporting.
IP law, especially for patent protection, is not totally harmonised within the EU.
Local legislation created by the Slovenian Intellectual Property Office will impact protection in Slovenia. You should check that your intellectual property is protected.
Payment terms
An invoice must be issued for the supply of goods or services in Slovenia. The rules governing the issuing of an invoice are set out in the Value Added Tax Act and the Slovene Accounting Standards.
Invoices may be issued in paper or electronic form.
For more information, please visit Slovenia Business Point.
Business culture
The business culture in Slovenia is similar to the culture in Austria and the Balkan region. Slovenians tend to work efficiently, with a focus on results, which can sometimes come across as direct. However, this is part of a culture focused around respecting one another's time.
Next steps
DIT can advise you on doing business abroad, and help put you in touch with other people who can help such as lawyers and distributors.
