Small manufacturers in Slovenia - Chamber of Crafts of Slovenia

Mr. Miha Grah, President of the Chamber of Crafts of Slovenia:

"Slovenia’s small manufacturers can meet the most demanding requirements of the domestic and foreign markets. Many of us are already present in the European markets where we compete on an equal footing with other small manufacturers relative to the quality of our products and services.

We invite businessmen from abroad to contact our small manufacturers. In exchange for production programs and fresh capital, we offer the comparative advantages of Slovene small manufacturing: high manufacturing standards, hardworking and skilled hands, and well-equipped, modern facilities."

Small Manufacturing and Skilled Trades in Slovenia

The number of small and medium-sized enterprises in Slovenia is growing rapidly. At the beginning of 2000, there were 50,400 small manufacturers and skilled tradespeople registered with the Chamber of Crafts of Slovenia. Including company owners, Slovenia’s small manufacturing and skilled trades sector employs almost 130,000 Slovenes, that is, almost 20% of all employed people or 14% of Slovenia’s active population. Small manufacturering and the skilled trades produce around 19% of Slovenia’s GDP. On average, there are 256.4 small manufacturing plants per 10,000 people in Slovenia.

According to the 1999 figures, first place was taken by construction companies, followed by services, transportation, warehousing and connections, metal processing, catering, textile and leather manufacturing, wood processing, and electro- and non-metal processing.

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Mr. Miha Grah, President of the Chamber of Crafts of Slovenia

Chamber of Crafts of Slovenia

The Chamber of Crafts of Slovenia is an organization of all Slovene small manufacturers and skilled tradespeople. It has been active as a professional organization for over thirty years, and since 1994 as public legal institution. Its basic tasks include participation in the preparation of legislation pertaining to small manufacturering and the skilled trades, performing of public authorization (issuing and dispossesion of permits for small manufacturers and skilled tradespeople, licenses for road transport, etc.), education (it is responsible for the dual system of vocational training, the promotion of small manufacturers (preparing fairs, information networks), and publishing the Obrtnik (The Craftsman) magazine and other publications.

The Chamber of Crafts of Slovenia employs 55 people, mainly professionals in economics, legislation, taxation, informatics, and technology.

Regional chambers of small manufacturers (62) and small manufacturer collectives (30) are also an integral part of the Chamber of Crafts.

International Small manufacturing Fair

The Chamber of Crafts of Slovenia helps organize the largest fair in Slovenia and one of the biggest fairs in this part of Europe, the International Small Manufacturers Fair in Celje. Several thousand exhibitors participate in the fair, which has taken place every September for 33 years and has been attended by more than a quarter of a million visitors on each occasion.