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cerarLjubljana, 20 September (STA) - Hundreds of representatives of investors and shareholders from 55 countries have gathered in Ljubljana for Investors' Week, an event focusing on the latest developments on European capital markets.

The event was opened on Wednesday evening with a reception featuring Finance Minister Janez Šušteršič and Constitutional Court President Ernest Petrič as guest speakers.

Proceedings at the three-day event will revolve around a conference discussing issues such as revitalisation of the European capital market, Eurobonds, financial reform, and business opportunities in Slovenia and the region.

At the outset of the conference the head of the Pan-Slovenian Shareholders' Association Kristjan Verbič said that the debates would tackle dilemmas facing investors in challenging economic times and promote Slovenia as an investment destination.

Foreign Ministry State Secretary Božo Cerar welcomed the participants by presenting opportunities for foreign investors in Slovenia.

Cerar said Slovenia was pursuing a policy for post-crisis recovery comprising of structural reforms and efforts to open up the economy.

"Slovenia's main goal is to strengthen its image among foreign investors," he said, adding that the country had great potential for investing in transport, logistics, IT and the green economy.

The opening was also addressed by chairman of the World Federation of Investors Roger Ganser and Jella Benner-Heinacher, president of Euroshareholders and Eurofinuse, who highlighted the importance of events bringing investors together.

Benner-Heinacher stressed that the conference was the biggest international meeting of investors' representatives, bringing together 40 national associations representing 4 million individual investors.

"Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success," Benner-Heinacher said quoting industrialist Henry Ford as she called for joint efforts aimed at tackling the ongoing crisis.

On Thursday participants of the conference are due to debate ways to revive capital markets in the EU through pension and other reforms and ways to educate and protect users of financial services.

In the evening, an award for shareholder friendly company will be handed out to Slovenian drug maker Krka.

The debates on Friday will examine the future of the euro and obstacles facing small shareholders in becoming more active in decision-making.

A presentation of the Slovenian business environment and investment opportunities by the Public Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Entrepreneurship and Foreign Investments (JAPTI) will wrap up the conference.

Running alongside the conference is an investors' convention, called InvestoExpo, aimed at presenting Slovenian and international industries, institutions, and products with the goal of forging new business ties and opportunities.

Investors' Week is organised by the Pan-Slovenian Shareholders' Association, a group specialising in representing small shareholders at annual general meetings, in conjunction with the European Federation of Financial Services Users and the World Federation of Investors.

gj/sm
20.09.2012 15:11