Poland is one of the major Slovenian trade partners and ranks as the fourth-largest recipient of Slovenian foreign direct investment.
Poland is an emerging European power with the largest market in Central and Eastern Europe. For Slovenian businesses Poland is an important partner for sure. It is the seventh most important market for Slovenian exporters. The total value of exports is close to 1.5 billion euros, 2.4 percent of all Slovenian exports. Slovenia’s imports from Poland reach 1.35 billion euros, 2 percent of the import total.
Poland is also the fourth most important recipient of Slovenian direct investments – ahead of Italy, Austria, and all the Western Balkan states apart from Croatia (which is by far the main market for Slovenia’s investors). Both large Slovenian pharmaceutical companies, Lek (now Sandoz) and Krka, have opened production facilities there. For Krka the country is one of the most important markets. In 2024 the company generated 204 million euros of sales in Poland – 14 percent up from 2023. Another example of Slovenian investment in Poland is the plant operated by Eti Izlake, a leading European producer of switches and circuit breakers.
Polish investors in Slovenia have so far been rather more restrained. The most important Polish owned manufacturing company in Slovenia is Aluminium Kety EMMI, a part of large aluminium company Grupa Kety. Polish presence is more strongly felt on the retail market. Two large Polish groups, the CCC footwear company and LPP Fashion operate successful and growing networks of retail stores in the Alpine Republic. Hopefully more Polish investors will discover the small yet attractive market between the Alps and Mediterranean sea.
