Mr. Kristjan Verbič, M.Sc., the President of VZMD (Pan-Slovenian Shareholders' Association) has been, as an active member of the Slovene business delegation, visiting Toronto since Wednesday, in the framework of the efforts of (VZMD) business investment programmes Invest to Slovenia (investo.si) and International Investors` Network (invest-to.net)

Upon the arrival to Canada Mr. Verbič was received by the honorary consul general of the Republic of Slovenia in Canada, who is a highly respected businessmen of Slovenian descent, Mr. John Doma, and Mr. Marjan Kolarič, a representative of the Canadian Slovenes at the Slovenian government and the President of the Arts Council in Toronto. Among other things they were discussing the possibilities of deepened cooperation. According to Mr. Kolarič there are more than 35.000 inhabitants of Slovenian descent living in Canada who are involved in numerous activities and thus, only in Toronto, they also have their own Cultural
Centre, a radio station, a Slovene school and two banks.

On Thursday Mr. Verbič had, among other things, a meeting with the President and CEO of Rocklinc Investment Partners Inc. Mr. Jonathan M. Wellum, who has more than 20 years of experience of managing important investment funds. In the evening Mr. Verbič attended a festive opening of one of the biggest world food and wine fairs Gourmet Food & Wine Expo, which is visited by more than 45.000guests every year. Slovene showroom, where 7 companies are presenting themselves, has been visited by numerous members and visible representatives of the Slovene Community. In the framework of the fair many business links have been formed, and many presentations have been carried out for numerous merchants, caterers, winemakers, food businesses and enterprises, as well as for the wider public.

In the framework of the programme of the Slovene business delegation a business conference took place on Friday, as well as individual meetings between the Slovene companies and the representatives of the Canadian companies and institutions, which have been co-organised by the Canadian Industrial Association and Canadian–Slovene Chamber of Commerce. In addition to Gourmet Food & Wine Expo, the Annual Power Conference APPrO 2013 will also take place during the visit of the Slovene business delegation on November 19 & 20.

As usually, suitable provisions have also been made this time to ensure that companies, institutions and investment projects included in the two VZMD international business-investment programmes have been successfully presented.

After this year's successful presentations in Astana, Almaty, Baku, Brussels, Bucharest, Vienna, Kiev, Ljubljana, Madrid, Moscow,New Delhi, Tokyo and Zagreb, and at least a few more visits which have been planned for this year and are supposed to take place inBucharest, Moscow, Minsk and Buffalo, VZMD is pleased to invite all who would like to take part in the activities to contact VZMDinvesto.si programme coordinator by phone 031 770 771, or e-mail tratar@investo.si.