State Secretary Raščan in a discussion on India at the Bled Strategic Forum 2026
SLOVENIA, September 2 - In the panel discussion on economic cooperation between Europe and India, he drew attention to the rapid growth in trade between Slovenia and India and the significant untapped potential for further increasing trade, particularly Slovenian exports. He also emphasised the importance of direct political, economic and interpersonal contacts, as well as the opportunities available to Slovenian companies in niche sectors, including aviation, security and defence. Furthermore, he presented Slovenia as a potential hub for linking India, the EU and the countries of the Western Balkans.
On the sidelines of the Forum, State Secretary Raščan had an open and constructive conversation with Rastislav Chovanec, his counterpart from the Slovak Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. They discussed bilateral relations, with a particular focus on strengthening economic cooperation and fostering links between Slovenian and Slovak small and medium-sized enterprises. State Secretary Chovanec expressed an interest in increasing Slovakia’s participation in the Celje International Industry Fair and invited Slovenian companies to attend the Three Seas Initiative Business Forum in Slovakia in spring 2027.
State Secretary Raščan received a delegation of Latin American political and public figures, including former senior politicians and foreign policy experts. Among them were Humberto Calderón Berti, former President of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and former Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs; Ernesto Araújo, former Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs; Marcelo Martín Matzkin, Member of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies; and Alejandro Peña Esclusa, writer and expert in Latin-American geopolitics. They discussed ways of strengthening economic cooperation with countries in the region, with a particular focus on trade, investment and logistics, as well as exploring new business opportunities for Slovenian companies in Latin American markets.
State Secretary Raščan also met with Aarti Holla-Maini, Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). She praised Slovenia for its active participation in the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), which Slovenia currently chairs. They both emphasised the importance of smaller countries participating in space governance and recognised Slovenia’s position as a regional leader in this field. They also agreed that this role could present significant opportunities for Slovenian companies specialising in space technologies.
During his meeting with Nicole Epting, the Head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Representation for Central and South-Eastern Europe, the focus was on how Slovenia could contribute to solving the refugee crisis at its source by improving living conditions in people’s home countries and enabling them to live there safely and with dignity.
The State Secretary also met with Róbert Vass, the founder and president of GLOBSEC, and Milan Solár, the organisation’s chief external relations officer. In particular, they discussed ways of deepening cooperation between the Bled Strategic Forum and GLOBSEC.
State Secretary Raščan and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Dimitrij Rupel appeared together on the Radio Slovenia programme ‘Studio ob 17’, which was broadcast live from Bled. The two politicians reminisced about the early days of the Bled Strategic Forum, before discussing the current challenges facing Slovenian foreign policy, security, EU enlargement, cooperation in Central Europe and opportunities for strengthening collaboration with Latin America and India. They also emphasised the importance of Slovenia playing an active role in shaping international relations during this period of significant geopolitical change.
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