Slovenia

Bilateral relationship

New Zealand's relations with Slovenia are friendly. The Slovene community in New Zealand is small. We were among the first countries to recognise Slovenia, after the EU, on 16 January 1992.

Following the visit by Prime Minister Janez Drnovsek in 1998, New Zealand negotiated a visa waiver arrangement with Slovenia. Slovenians may enter New Zealand visa-free for short-term stays, and likewise New Zealanders may visit Slovenia without a visa. A working holiday scheme between New Zealand and Slovenia was signed on 22 September 2009 and is expected to come into force in the upcoming months.

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Key facts

Geography/Demographics

Land Area 20,273 sq km

Population 2.0 million (2008 est)

Capital City Ljubljana

Language Slovene

Political

Political system Democratic parliamentary republic

National government Four party coalition (Social Democrats, For Real-New Politics, the Liberal Democracy of Slovenia and Democratic Party of Slovenian Pensioners)

National legislature Bicameral: 90 member National Assembly (four year term); Prime Minister recommended by President, appointed by assembly; 40 member Council of State, power limited to delaying legislation, (five year term)
Last election November 2007 (Presidential); September 2008 (Parliamentaryl)

Next election due 2012 (both Parliamentary and Presidential)

Head of State President Danilo Tuerk

Head of Government Prime Minister Borut Pahor

Economic (2008)

GDP US$54.6 billion

Real GDP growth 3.5%

Exports US$29.6 billion

Imports US$33.5 billion

Main exports Vehicles, electrical machinery and equipment, furniture, clothing and chemicals

Current account deficit - US$3.3 billion

Inflation 5.7%

New Zealand Trade (2008)

NZ Exports (FOB) NZ$5,149,000

Main Exports Iron and steel, machinery, wine

NZ Imports (CIF) NZ$8,350,000

Main Imports Tyres, air/vacuum pumps, measuring apparatus, heaters and pharmaceuticals

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Visits

Slovenian Ministerial Visits to New Zealand

• Janez Drnovšek, Prime Minister, June 1998
• Dr Davorin Kracun, Deputy Prime Minister, Feb 1994
• Dimitrij Rupel, Foreign Minister, May 1992
  

New Zealand Ministerial Visits to Slovenia

• Hon Phil Goff, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Sept 2003

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Representation

• The Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Canberra is accredited to NZ
• The New Zealand Ambassador in Rome is accredited to Slovenia and there is a New Zealand Honorary Consul in Ljubljana

Travel advice

The Safetravel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to Slovenia [external link].

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