SLOVENIA is looking to deepen its economic footprint in the Philippines by focusing on energy efficiency, high-tech solutions and knowledge-based cooperation, according to Slovenian Ambassador Smiljana Knez.
Knez said Slovenia sees potential in sectors that improve efficiency and security, particularly in energy systems and advanced technologies, while also noting growing interest in life sciences.
‘Energy, those high-tech solutions that would make us more efficient and more secure, are definitely one of the key areas,’ Knez told reporters on Wednesday afternoon on the sidelines of a Stratbase event in Makati City.
She also pointed to life sciences as another possible area of cooperation, but said further groundwork is needed to identify viable partnerships.
Bilateral trade between the two countries remains modest but is expanding, she said, noting that the Philippines hosts Slovenia’s only embassy in Southeast Asia, which was opened a year ago to help stimulate commercial ties.
‘Trade is growing, it’s still small for the time being, but it is growing fast,’ Knez said.
While trade is currently slightly in Slovenia’s favor, she said both sides are working toward a more balanced and higher-volume exchange, consistent with Slovenia’s export-driven economy.
Based on government data, total trade between the Philippines and Slovenia rose by 30.7 percent in 2025 compared with the previous year. The increase was driven largely by a 39.9 percent rise in imports, which offset a 9.8 percent decline in exports.
Slovenia is actively exploring areas for expansion, particularly in high-value sectors and academic exchange, Knez said. ‘I focus a lot on knowledge-based, high-tech solutions, trying to bring them over,’ she said, adding that closer cooperation between universities and research institutions could also support long-term growth.
On current trade flows, Knez said Slovenia exports pharmaceuticals and dairy products, among others, while also participating in global supply chains for semiconductors. She noted that some dairy products consumed in international coffee chains are sourced from Slovenia.
Meanwhile, imports into Slovenia include agricultural goods such as coconut oil, which she said is a key product in European distribution networks. She also cited semiconductor-related cooperation as part of existing industrial linkages.
Regarding the investment climate, Knez said Slovenia is still familiarizing itself with doing business in the Philippines but acknowledged that governance issues, including corruption, remain a concern across many markets globally.
Vietnam currently remains Slovenia’s strongest trade partner in Southeast Asia, according to the envoy, while the Philippines is still in a developing phase in terms of trade volume, at the same level as Indonesia.
Despite external uncertainties, Knez said geopolitical developments have had a limited direct impact on Slovenian business plans in the Philippines.
However, she noted that past crises, including the European energy shock triggered by the Russia-Ukraine war, underscored the importance of energy efficiency and resilience.
Sustained global instability could still affect growth if prolonged, both in Europe and in emerging markets such as the Philippines, she said.
On the other hand, Knez said Slovenia’s decision to establish an embassy in Manila was based on three factors: perceived economic potential, shared commitment to international law and the need to expand labor and mobility cooperation, including hiring Filipino workers in Slovenia.