Chapter Zero Slovenia
UK Trade Council Convenes to Address Trade Barriers With Special Guests
The March meeting of the UK Trade Council was, in addition to its regular members, attended by special guests, including His Majesty's Trade Commissioner for Europe Chris Barton, the British Ambassador to Slovenia Tiffany Sadler, and the Director-General of the Directorate for Economic and Public Diplomacy Slobodan Šešum. The discussion mainly focused on the identification and removal of trade barriers between Slovenia and the UK.
"Last October, our Chamber established the UK Trade Council to help businesses identify and remove trade barriers by working with the relevant government entities, ultimately promoting trade and investment between our countries." said Barbara Uranjek, CEO the British-Slovenian Chamber of Commerce, as she opened the Council meeting.
Chris Barton, HM Trade Commissioner for Europe, who is currently on a business visit in Slovenia, welcomed the UK Trade Council's work, adding, "Despite challenges such as the UK's exit from the EU, the Covid crisis, the war in Ukraine and the rising cost of living, I am optimistic about our trading relationship. Real exports to the EU are up 20 % compared to 2019, showing a rapid rebound in trade. I see opportunities for further growth in trade, particularly in the areas of defence, healthcare, energy, nuclear energy, technology and infrastructure. My aim is to continue to work with governments and businesses to provide a framework that promotes new trade and investment opportunities."
British Ambassador to Slovenia Tiffany Sadler echoed Barton's support for the Council, expressing her readiness to engage in constructive dialogues with businesses to address trade barriers.
Joining us was also Slobodan Šešum, Director General of the Directorate for Economic and Public Diplomacy, who sees the UK Trade Council as a very valuable platform for businesses: "This platform allows businesses to share their views and identify trade barriers they face. The Government is here to provide assistance in addressing these challenges."
A special thank you goes to Riko for hosting the meeting. CEO Janez Škrabec noted their pride in being members of our Chamber and added: "We are keen to further increase our presence in the UK market in the future, as we see it as a premium location for further business growth."
Together with Council members, we also discussed the various trade access barriers, including digital signatures, reference pricing systems, and bureaucratic hurdles.
