Slovenia

Bilateral relationship

New Zealand's relations with Slovenia are friendly. The Slovene community in New Zealand is small. We were among the first countries to recognise Slovenia, after the EU, on 16 January 1992.

Following the visit by Prime Minister Janez Drnovsek in 1998, New Zealand negotiated a visa waiver arrangement with Slovenia. Slovenians may enter New Zealand visa-free for short-term stays, and likewise New Zealanders may visit Slovenia without a visa. A Working Holiday Scheme between New Zealand and Slovenia has been a source of further ties.

top of page

Key facts

Geography/Demographics

Land Area 20,273 sq km

Population 1.996 million (July 2011 est)

Capital City Ljubljana

Language Slovene

Political

Political system Democratic parliamentary republic

National government Five party coalition (Social Democrats, For Real-New Politics, Civic List, the Liberal Democracy of Slovenia, Democratic Party of Slovenian Pensioners)

National legislature Bicameral: 90 member National Assembly (four year term); Prime Minister recommended by President, appointed by assembly; 40 member Council of State, power limited to delaying legislation, (five year term)
Last election November 2007 (Presidential); September 2011 (Parliamentaryl)

Next election due October 2012 (Presidential); 2015 (Parliamentary)

Head of State President Danilo Tuerk

Head of Government Prime Minister Janez Jansa (since 28 January 2012)

Economic (2009)

GDP US$49.6 billion

Real GDP growth -0.2%

Exports US$28.8billion

Imports US$30.65 billion

Main exports Vehicles, electrical machinery and equipment, furniture, clothing and chemicals

Current account deficit US$-536 million
Unemployment 11.8%

Inflation 1.9%

New Zealand Trade (2011)

NZ Exports (FOB) NZ$990,000

Main Exports Iron and steel, medical instruments

NZ Imports (CIF) NZ$6.1 million

Main Imports Tyres,medical instruments, electrical machinery

top of page

Visits

Slovenian Ministerial Visits to New Zealand

• Janez Drnovšek, Prime Minister, June 1998
• Dr Davorin Kracun, Deputy Prime Minister, Feb 1994
• Dimitrij Rupel, Foreign Minister, May 1992
  

New Zealand Ministerial Visits to Slovenia

• Rt Hon Winston Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs, April 2008
• Hon Phil Goff, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Sept 2003

top of page

Representation

• The Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Canberra is accredited to New Zealand.
• The New Zealand Ambassador in Vienna is accredited to Slovenia and there is a New Zealand Honorary Consul in Ljubljana [external link].

Travel advice

The Safetravel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to Slovenia [external link].

top of page