Riyadh, December 8, 2024 – In a significant diplomatic and economic engagement, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Economy and Planning, Faisal Alibrahim, held a crucial meeting with Matjaž Han, Slovenia's Minister of Economy, Tourism and Sport. The meeting, which took place in Riyadh, focused on fostering closer trade and investment relations between the two nations, exploring opportunities for greater collaboration across various sectors.
During the discussions, the two ministers addressed a wide range of topics, including strategies to enhance bilateral trade, investment flows, and the potential for cooperation in the public and private sectors. Both parties expressed a keen interest in identifying areas where their respective economies could benefit from mutual engagement, particularly in sectors such as tourism, technology, and sustainable development.
Minister Alibrahim highlighted Saudi Arabia's ambitious Vision 2030 plan, which aims to diversify the Kingdom’s economy and strengthen its position as a global business hub. He emphasized that Slovenia, with its advanced industries and innovation-driven economy, presents a valuable partner in realizing these objectives. He also stressed the Kingdom’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for international businesses and investors.
On the other hand, Minister Han underscored Slovenia’s strong expertise in various sectors, including green technologies, digitalization, and high-end manufacturing. He expressed Slovenia’s eagerness to build stronger ties with Saudi Arabia, particularly in areas where both nations could collaborate on innovation, sustainability, and knowledge transfer.
The meeting also explored potential joint ventures, partnerships, and investment opportunities that could drive long-term economic growth for both countries. The ministers discussed ways to create conducive frameworks that would encourage private sector involvement in these collaborative efforts, fostering a deeper economic relationship between Saudi Arabia and Slovenia.
This engagement marks a pivotal step in enhancing the bilateral ties between the two nations, as both ministers committed to continuing their dialogue and working towards concrete initiatives that could benefit their economies. The visit comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is intensifying its global outreach, particularly in Europe, as part of its broader strategy to strengthen international partnerships and diversify its economic base.
Both ministers agreed that this dialogue was just the beginning of what could become a long-lasting and mutually beneficial economic relationship, with the potential to create significant opportunities for trade, investment, and collaborative development.