The management of the Swiss company Novartis, which owns the Slovenian pharmaceutical company Lek, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government of the Republic of Slovenia led by Prime Minister Robert Golob to build a high-tech centre for the production of biosimilar medicinal products, which will be built in Lendava. The value of the investment in this high-tech centre has been estimated at EUR 400 million and it is expected to employ 300 highly qualified professionals. It is one of the largest foreign direct investments in Slovenia to date.

On the occasion of the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, Prime Minister Golob noted that Slovenia’s economy was booming and that the country had a stable political and an attractive economic environment for foreign investment. “The message we are sending to Europe and to the world today is all the more important as more similar stories will follow in the coming months,” he said, adding, “I am particularly pleased that this is an investment by a long-term strategic investor, and a socially responsible and sustainable company, which is already one of the largest and most respected employers in Slovenia. With such investments, we are well on our way towards a highly productive, competitive and green economy.”

And there is more good news on its way this week. The European Commission has given the green light to Slovenia’s first request for EU Recovery and Resilience Facility funds. Slovenia is entitled to EUR 1.5 billion in grants and up to EUR 3.2 billion in loans from the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism. At this stage, Slovenia has decided to draw EUR 705 million in loans in addition to the allocated grants.