Slovenia feels Expo

The Gorenjska and Central Slovenia regions will be presented at the Slovenian pavilion at Expo 2015 in June. Friday, 19 June, is Slovenian National Day, which is celebrated by the highest Slovenian state representatives and business delegations, and the event will enjoy a varied cultural and artistic programme.

Slovenia will be represented at the World Exhibition Expo 2015 with its own pavilion and motto – ‘I Feel Slovenia. Green. Active. Healthy.’ The pavilion, which is made of natural materials, is in the form of a pyramid to symbolise the diversity of Slovenia’s landscape. “Slovenia’s story is a story of love, and it is the only country in the world which contains love in its name,” says Jerneja Lampret, Commissioner General for Slovenia’s presentation at Expo 2015. Stefano Gatti, General Manager of the Participants’ Division for Expo 2015, is also excited about the Slovenian pavilion: “Once the interior design of the Slovenian pavilion is completed, the pavilion will represent Slovenia’s efforts invested in promoting a healthy and sustainable way of life and symbolise the connection between Italy and Slovenia. In the last few months, it has been a great pleasure to cooperate with the Slovenian authorities, technicians and designers in the creation of this really innovative pavilion, which was built with the help of Slovenian technologies and from Slovenian wood. I congratulate and thank them and the builders involved in the construction. The pavilion will also attract many visitors because of its privileged position in immediate vicinity of Cardo, the street intended for Italian presentations, and will be interesting for the many tourists and Slovenian delegations planning to attend the World Exhibition.”

The Gorenjska region will be presented at the World Exhibition in June. The landscape is characterised by majestic Alps with the highest Slovenian peak, Triglav: the symbol of Slovenian nationhood. Alpine dairy farming and traditional forms of livestock farming where shepherds take the stock to pasture in the mountains still survive here. Fresh mountain air is complimented by the clear streams which run into the valleys from numerous waterfalls and pools. The Savica waterfall and river form the largest Slovenian natural lake in Bohinj, while Lake Bled is located downstream. Bled is a true Alpine gem, which with its idyllic island, the only island in Slovenia, creates wonderful panoramic vistas that are almost as beautiful as those seen on the hike in Triglav National Park or any of the plateaus. The Gorenjska region offers countless opportunities for hiking and cycling in the summer, while skiing activities on arranged ski slopes or ski touring are possible in winter. International competitions organised by the International Ski Federation are particularly interesting in wintertime with their ski jumping final in Planica and the Vitranc Cup in Kranjska Gora. In addition to sports events, many traditional cultural events are also organised in the Gorenjska region. Visit the Days of national costumes and clothing heritage in Kamnik, attend the Shoemakers’ Sunday in Tržič, and enjoy the International Wild Flower Festival in Bohinj.

Central Slovenia will be presented at Expo 2015 in the second half of June. In addition to Ljubljana, European Green Capital 2016, the region also includes 25 neighbouring municipalities offering traditional hospitality, diverse nature, attractive small towns, castles, village churches with rich artistic heritage and incredible local restaurants. The capital is considered an undiscovered European gem, which many compare to Prague due to its beautiful architecture. Ljubljana’s symbol is a dragon, which sits on Dragon Bridge, and the most recognised feature of the city is Ljubljana Castle. Ljubljana’s image reveals different historical periods, but the work of the world-renowned architect Jože Plečnik nevertheless left a lasting impression on the city. In recent years, Ljubljana has developed into a gourmet paradise, since it connects many different culinary worlds; Slovenian cooking is influenced by Mediterranean, Alpine and Pannonian cuisine. The cuisine is noticeably characterised by fresh, seasonal ingredients from the organic produce of nearby farms.

Like other countries participating at this year’s Expo, a National Day will also be held at the Slovenian pavilion. The opportunity to meet Slovenian government representatives and business delegations and view the accompanying cultural programme will be on 19 June. According to Zdravko Počivalšek, the Minister of Economic Development and Technology, Slovenia will pursue three objectives at the Expo: to strengthen business connections and the internationalisation of Slovenian companies, to promote Slovenia as a tourist destination and a strategic partner, and to enhance Slovenia’s image through the I Feel Slovenia brand. “Bilateral business cooperation between Slovenia and foreign countries will be an important part of the Slovenian pavilion at Expo 2015. To this end, the Slovenian pavilion will serve as a business centre, source of information and business opportunities for potential partners which will be open during the World Exhibition,” states Počivalšek. Iztok Mirošič, Slovenian Ambassador to Italy, and Gorazd Skrt, Director of SPIRIT Slovenia Representative Office in Italy, also agree that Expo 2015 is an excellent opportunity for Slovenia and its tourism, since Italy is its second most important business partner and third largest investor.

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