13th Slovenian development days: Business in Support of Global Solidarity
Slovenian development days
This year’s edition of the Slovenian Development Days will spotlight the crucial role of the business sector in both development cooperation and humanitarian aid. In the face of the rising number of humanitarian and development challenges, the active engagement of the business sector and private actors is essential for securing sustainable financing and addressing future development needs. Such cooperation can drive innovation, generate employment, strengthen local markets and support long-term economic growth.
The international section of the 13th Slovenian Development Days will open on 14 October 2025 at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, with a keynote speech from Tanja Fajon, Slovenia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs. This will be followed by the second part of the 3rd Slovenian Humanitarian Forum, which is being held under the honorary patronage of President of the Republic of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar. The first part took place on 2 September 2025 as an event within the Bled Strategic Forum, entitled Reimagining Multilateral Action in an Age of Crisis and Constraint.
This will be followed by a high-level panel discussion entitled Development and Humanitarian Partnerships as a Business Opportunity. Representatives of Slovenian and international organisations and institutions will discuss ways in which the private sector can turn business ideas into reality in partner countries, all the while striving to achieve sustainable development goals worldwide. They will also explore the role of Official Development Assistance (ODA) in catalysing economic engagement.
On Wednesday 15 October, the 2024 report on Slovenia's development cooperation and humanitarian aid will be presented to the Committee on Foreign Policy of the Slovenian National Assembly. The Committee session will be broadcast live on TV Slovenia, channel 3.
On Wednesday 15 October and Thursday 16 October, events and activities will also be organised by partner institutions of Slovenian development and humanitarian aid. At roundtables, workshops, lectures and conferences, the CEF, the CEP, the CMSR, the ITF and Caritas Slovenia will present good practices and opportunities for companies to access development markets in partner countries (for links to individual events, see the programme for the 13th Slovenian Development Days).
On Friday 17 October, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia will host an introductory discussion between the directors-general of the Ministries of Finance, Economy, Tourism and Sports, and Foreign and European Affairs. They will discuss the advantages of private sector involvement in development and humanitarian initiatives, the motivations behind this approach and how it can help internationalise the Slovenian economy.
Two practical workshops will follow: The first, From Urgency to Sustainability: How the Private Sector can Help Deliver an Urgent Humanitarian Response and Long-term Recovery after Crises, is a workshop on involving the private sector in urgent humanitarian response activities. It is aimed primarily at business representatives and will explore the specific opportunities, challenges and best practices associated with this area.
The second, entitled Global Gateway: Innovative Mechanisms for Engaging the Private Sector in Development Efforts – Internationalisation of Slovenian Companies in Developing Countries, will feature speakers from the European Commission and other Slovenian and international institutions, and give representatives of Slovenian companies the opportunity to network and ask questions on this topic.
This will be followed by Dr Jana Arbeiter presenting the results of the Policy Coherence for (Sustainable) Development study, which examines the impact of Slovenia’s national policies on developing countries and on its own sustainable development.
The event will conclude with a speech by State Secretary Melita Gabrič, PhD.
The Slovenian Development Days event serves as the principal forum for discussion on current issues in the field of development cooperation and humanitarian aid. The event brings together domestic and foreign experts, representatives of governmental and non-governmental institutions, international organisations, private actors and academia.
This year's edition will provide a comprehensive overview of the challenges and activities of Slovenia's current development and humanitarian cooperation, with a particular focus on its partnerships with the Slovenian economy.
You are cordially invited to join us.