Slovenia’s foreign trade keeps going strong

by SNGZ | Nov 7, 2022 | News

Slovenia exported EUR 5.3 billion worth of goods in September, 53% more than in the same month a year ago, as imports rose by 34% to EUR 5 billion in the period, fresh figures from the Statistics Office show.

The export-import ratio was 105%, which means Slovenia generated a surplus of EUR 260,000.

Exports to EU markets were up by 31% year-on-year to just over EUR 3 billion as imports from EU countries rose by 17% to EUR 2.84 billion.

The value of Slovenia’s external trade with third countries also increased, with exports going up by 95% to EUR 2.29 billion, and imports rising by 64% to EUR 2.20 billion.

A major share in trade with non-EU countries were operations involving processing, including modification, making, composition, improvement or renovation with the aim of making new or significantly improved products.

Excluding processing transactions, exports to markets outside the EU amounted to roughly a billion euros, which marks a 32% increase from September 2021, while imports exclusive of those transactions were up by 62% to EUR 1.1 billion.

In the first nine months of the year, merchandise exports were up by 37% on the same period last year to EUR 39.66 billion and imports rose by 45% to EUR 42.49 billion.

External trade deficit amounted to EUR 2.83 billion in the period, with the export-import ratio at 93%.

In the first three quarters of the year, Slovenian companies exported most goods to Switzerland (21.7%) where processing transactions represented a high share, followed by Germany (14.6%), Italy (10.8%), Croatia (8.5%), Austria (6.5%) and France (3.3%).

Most of imports were also from Switzerland (14.6%), followed by those from Germany (12.5%), Italy (11.3%), China (9.5%), Austria (8.6%) and Croatia (5.1%). With those countries, Slovenia generated more than 60% of the total trade in goods.

SOURCE STA

European Food Summit

by SNGZ | Nov 7, 2022 | News

Ljubljana is hosting the annual European Food Summit from Saturday to Monday for the third time since it was incepted in 2019. Michelin-starred Slovenian chef Ana Roš is confident that the event puts Slovenia on the gastronomy map.

This year’s summit is devoted mainly to the importance of a sustainable approach to food and stepped-up responsibility in handling food, the organisers told a press conference in Ljubljana on Thursday.

As part of the event, the Gourmet Ljubljana Crawl and Ljubljana Soul Chefs will take place on Saturday.

On Sunday, food tours will be held for journalists to present cooperation between local producers and top-rated chefs in several Slovenian regions. Best Slovenian gastronomic practices will be in focus, said Barbara Zmrzlikar, head of research, development, innovation and EU projects at the Slovenian Tourist Board (STO).

The main part of the summit will be held in Ljubljana Castle on Monday when world-class chefs, scientists and journalists will discuss ways to boost food sustainability. The ‘Common-Sensitarian’ Food Culture Manifesto will be unveiled in a bid to improve society’s attitudes towards nutrition and diets.

At the press conference, Roš, the celebrated chef from Hiša Franko, who has recently again made it among the top ten world chefs, a list by The Best Chef, said that the event put Slovenia on the gastronomy map, where the country wants to be positioned and where it also belongs.

The summit is part of the November Gourmet Ljubljana gastronomy festival that will bring a number of events to the capital until 30 November.

SOURCE STA

African Creative Economy Investor Masterclass Series at CANEX WKND 2022

by SNGZ | Nov 7, 2022 | News

African Creative Economy Investor Masterclass Series at CANEX WKND 2022

The Creative Economy Practice at CcHUB presents the 3rd session of its African Creative Economy Investor MasterClass Series. It is open to existing fund managers including Angel Investors and networks, Venture Capital Funds, Syndicate Funds and Members, Private Equity Funds, and Impact Funds. This session is a two-day intensive, in-person workshop that will be held during Afreximbank’s Creative Africa Nexus in Abidjan on the 24 and 25th of November. The workshop fee is Seven Hundred and Fifty United States Dollars ($750) which will cover the cost of the two-day workshop, materials and tea break, and lunches on both days. Access to CANEX delegate activities will also be available as part of the package. Please note that you will need to cover the cost of your travel to Abidjan and accommodation.To express interest in attending, please register your interest HERE

eCommerce Startup, Bumpa, Raises $4 Million Seed

by SNGZ | Nov 7, 2022 | News

Bumpa, formerly known as SalesCabal, was relaunched in February 2021 by Kelvin Umechukwu (CEO) and Adetunji Opayele (CTO). It helps retailers manage and grow their businesses using their smartphones.

The company says it is building the infrastructure to fuel online commerce and empower African small business owners to start, run, and grow their businesses from their mobile devices.

The startup, which Umechukwu calls “Shopify for Africa,” assists merchants and businesses in moving their operations online. It allows merchants with no technical skills and experience to set up their eCommerce store using their smartphones.

In September 2021, the company raised a $200,000 pre-seed.

In August 2022, Bumpa announced the integration of its platform with Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, to boost social commerce for business owners.

It allows social merchants to manage their direct messages (DMs) from Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp directly on Bumpa without having to go to any of the Meta platforms.

Further, Bumpa wants to integrate its products and channels that small businesses use with a single click of a button, thereby facilitating the transfer of information for efficiency.

It also will prioritise tasks based on orders and activities completed on the platform.

Read the original article on Techpoint