WEBVTT

00:00:03.020 --> 00:00:10.015
I have to say
that today's meeting

00:00:10.040 --> 00:00:14.750
with business leaders 
and mayors was very constructive.

00:00:14.930 --> 00:00:22.525
Above all, it was a reflection
of the satisfaction of those present

00:00:22.550 --> 00:00:27.655
with the work we have done
so far and the efforts we

00:00:27.680 --> 00:00:31.765
have made as a government 
in this region in various areas,

00:00:31.885 --> 00:00:35.727
whether infrastructure,
cultural heritage, knowledge, the economy.

00:00:36.200 --> 00:00:39.265
So that there was practically

00:00:39.290 --> 00:00:42.500
nocriticism, 
which we are usually not used to.

00:00:42.530 --> 00:00:49.195
There was only praise and thanks
and, at the same time, words of

00:00:49.220 --> 00:00:53.215
encouragement for the future. 
The realisation that Maribor

00:00:53.240 --> 00:00:58.135
is an important cultural 
and scientific,

00:00:58.160 --> 00:01:02.065
higher education centre, 
was important and at the same time

00:01:02.090 --> 00:01:05.740
that it is reflected in
the whole region

00:01:05.765 --> 00:01:09.414
and that we need to continue to
strengthen these activities.

00:01:09.648 --> 00:01:13.953
Two foundation
stones were laid today.

00:01:14.240 --> 00:01:18.920
There was the news that we
have secured an additional

00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:22.670
€9 million for the Rotovž, 
a total of €21 million.

00:01:23.000 --> 00:01:27.895
With our letter of intent
to the municipality, we have

00:01:27.920 --> 00:01:32.656
established the basis to go into 
the exchange of certain properties,

00:01:33.144 --> 00:01:38.339
and on the other hand, we also listened
to a short report from certain ministers,

00:01:38.512 --> 00:01:44.120
how much money has been
invested in the region in all areas.

00:01:44.630 --> 00:01:48.775
Any questions? 
-We've heard at the end

00:01:48.800 --> 00:01:52.945
that the leaders in the economy
haven't been given a platform.

00:01:52.970 --> 00:01:55.340
In fact, they were listening 
to the daily summary,

00:01:55.670 --> 00:01:59.240
but you haven't had a proper conversation 
with businesses, with entrepreneurs ...

00:01:59.582 --> 00:02:03.430
They were also expecting

00:02:03.620 --> 00:02:06.547
you would approve subsidies today.

00:02:08.150 --> 00:02:09.476
Schemes, yes.

00:02:09.673 --> 00:02:16.010
No, we did not have this item
on the agenda because

00:02:16.500 --> 00:02:22.109
we are still coordinating it 
and it will be coordinated shortly.

00:02:22.810 --> 00:02:25.605
At the moment, I can say,
that the economic situation in the

00:02:25.700 --> 00:02:31.405
country is good, the unemployment 
is low and that we need

00:02:31.430 --> 00:02:33.650
to be very careful 
what the sectors

00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:36.415
that will have priority 
in subsidising part-time

00:02:36.440 --> 00:02:40.945
work will be. 
We will work on that

00:02:40.970 --> 00:02:44.930
as soon as possible,
but it has to be done sensibly.

00:02:46.520 --> 00:02:51.535
About the economy ... I don't know
who voiced that concern,

00:02:51.560 --> 00:02:54.520
because right from the start 
it seemed nobody

00:02:54.546 --> 00:02:57.062
wanted to speak, 
then they got encouraged.

00:02:57.200 --> 00:03:00.295
They had opportunities,

00:03:00.320 --> 00:03:04.490
if they wanted to ask a question,
including on the economy.

00:03:04.790 --> 00:03:09.453
But there were suggestions,
how to keep the workforce here,

00:03:09.620 --> 00:03:14.455
how important it is 
to invest in skills

00:03:14.480 --> 00:03:18.505
and development, and how there are 
also examples of good practice,

00:03:18.530 --> 00:03:23.905
when people, 
who have worked in Austria

00:03:23.976 --> 00:03:28.969
are returning to their home country
and staying here.

00:03:29.359 --> 00:03:33.945
They also want to see measures 
to relieve wage and tax burdens.

00:03:34.090 --> 00:03:38.758
They say that, for the most part, most
of the measures increase the burden.

00:03:39.160 --> 00:03:41.170
We have different views.

00:03:41.200 --> 00:03:48.345
The system of converting wages
from gross to net is also slightly

00:03:48.370 --> 00:03:53.000
different from other countries. 
I won't touch on this specifically.

00:03:53.234 --> 00:03:57.790
How much did we give out,
when the economy needed

00:03:58.180 --> 00:04:01.000
help?
Many people took this for granted.

00:04:01.210 --> 00:04:04.665
It is not.
There was the energy crisis,

00:04:04.690 --> 00:04:09.672
then in this crisis, 
caused by these floods.

00:04:09.945 --> 00:04:13.273
Also we've had the subsidies
for the green transition.

00:04:13.360 --> 00:04:19.540
If you add it up, I think, 
it's millions,

00:04:19.720 --> 00:04:24.203
hunderds of millions of subsidies,
that have gone into the economy.

00:04:24.445 --> 00:04:29.560
And this contribution 
for health insurance,

00:04:29.860 --> 00:04:32.470
which is otherwise 
the employer's burden.

00:04:32.650 --> 00:04:35.675
Before, everyone paid for it
themselves, now it is much less.

00:04:35.700 --> 00:04:37.500
But if we look at it,
there is another side to it.

00:04:37.530 --> 00:04:40.745
There are several sides, but I think,
the most important thing at the moment is

00:04:40.770 --> 00:04:46.440
that the unemployment is low and
that our economy is in good shape.

00:04:47.228 --> 00:04:51.079
There are still a lot of people
commuting from Maribor to Austria.

00:04:51.212 --> 00:04:56.795
How can the economy
stem this brain drain

00:04:56.821 --> 00:04:59.907
and so on so that more people
stay here in the Styria region?

00:05:00.090 --> 00:05:06.755
Investing in innovation and in
development is one of the most

00:05:06.780 --> 00:05:09.155
important answers, key answers,
to this question of yours.

00:05:09.180 --> 00:05:12.375
You have a university here,
where enrolments are increasing.

00:05:12.540 --> 00:05:15.665
If the pharmaceutical
programmes continue

00:05:15.690 --> 00:05:19.835
top develop, 
because Sandoz is here,

00:05:19.860 --> 00:05:23.225
and is aware of its mission 
and values Slovenian knowledge...

00:05:23.250 --> 00:05:25.917
Another answer could be
the supercomputer,

00:05:26.042 --> 00:05:31.862
all these investments 
and projects that give high added value.

00:05:32.073 --> 00:05:33.811
Thank you.
-Thank you.