9th LAC Days: strengthening cooperation in energy, logistics and science
Participants at the 9th LAC Days. | Author MZEZ
At the opening event, State Secretary Dr. Melita Gabrič emphasised the shared commitment of Slovenia and the countries of the LAC region to multilateralism and sustainable development. “Our cooperation is grounded in digitalisation, artificial intelligence and the sustainable management of resources – areas in which Slovenia offers cutting-edge expertise,” she said.
As part of the conference, high-level representatives of LAC countries met with President of the Republic of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon and Political Director Mateja Norčič Štamcar.
In discussions with representatives of LAC countries, Minister Fajon underlined that Slovenia and the LAC region, although separated by an ocean, share a common language of peace, multilateralism and respect for international law. “Belief in our partnership has been the guiding principle of my four-year term. I hope that the next two days will see us turn our shared vision into concrete projects.”
Participants reaffirmed their excellent relations and welcomed the intensified dialogue, which was further strengthened during Slovenia’s non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council (2024–2025), as well as through the renewal of dialogue between the EU and the LAC region in 2022. Political Director Norčič Štamcar highlighted the strategic importance of these partnerships, as reflected in numerous bilateral memoranda. In this context, Slovenia remains a strong advocate for the earliest possible implementation of the EU’s trade agreements with Mexico, Chile and Mercosur.
As part of the programme, participants visited the Krško Nuclear Power Plant (NEK), where they were received by Gorazd Pfeifer, President of the Management Board, and Franc Škaler, General Administration Director. NEK is a key pillar of Slovenia’s energy system and a model for the safe and reliable production of nuclear energy in Europe. The group also visited the TRIGA nuclear reactor at the Jožef Stefan Institute (IJS), which forms part of a global network and represents one of the most significant research and educational infrastructures in the wider region. Only ten such reactors are in operation in Europe, placing Slovenia in a prominent position on the global scientific map. The delegation was received by Dr Leon Cizelj, Director of IJS, and Dr Luka Snoj, Head of the TRIGA Reactor.
The LAC Days opened with an event held at the Konzorcij bookshop the evening before. During the literary evening, the Slovenian translation of The Maniac, a novel by the Chilean author Benjamín Labatut, was presented. Addressing themes of artificial intelligence, the novel serves as both a symbolic and substantive link between Slovenia and the LAC region, whose scientific institutions cooperate successfully in the fields of digitalisation and artificial intelligence.