Please tell us about a bit more about your country and its engagement with India…

We went through a financial crisis in our country, mainly during the period between 2008 and 2013. Several bigger firms went into deep debt, and as a result they were unable to undertake investments in markets outside Slovenia. Our own market is quite small, as our nation is of only 2 million people. Slovenians are trying to sell our products in India, where the market is developing very quickly and where in fact are vast opportunity. The balance of trade is in favour of India, which is mainly because Slovenian companies are importing from India (like tropical fruits, chemicals for the pharmaceutical industry) raw material or components but are not selling their final consumption products in India. As a country, we are a large producer of pharmaceuticals—we’ve two big firms in this sector, Lek and Krka, both good in generic drugs. Another important sector for export is automotive components. Currently we’ve have only one producer, that is Renault plant, but all big world trade marks cars have inbuilt some components produced in Slovenia. Regarding the trade volume with India we are ranked 18th in the EU out of 28 EU member reaching the figure 306 million EUR in 2016. Of the new states formed out of Yugoslavia, we are doing the best in general, but also with India. We in Slovenia are dedicated people, and when we take up any activity, we do so in all seriousness. Take for instance our success in sports. For a nation of two million, we are not doing too badly in the Olympic Games, both summer and winter, where usually receiving four medals. We have currently world downhill ski champion in the female category and in ski jumping in male category.

Tell us about the defence-related deal with the Indian Army…

Last year a Slovenian firm concluded an agreement to sell 194 Ultra-Light planes to the Indian Army. It is an absolute honour to compete with the best in the world, and be able to do this successfully. Around 60 planes have already been delivered.