Slovenia has the potential to play among the best—but only if we work together

As one of the key messages for the future of Slovenia, a small but very resilient and business-wise attractive country, Mr. Ceglar, CEO of NIL d.o.o.  outlines his vision of Slovenia as a country capable of reaching its full potential by combining ambition, collaboration, and consistent execution. He sees AmCham’s role in fostering trust and optimism, attracting investment, and unlocking the opportunities of digital transformation.

How would you define your vision for AmCham Slovenia and its role in driving positive change?

“My vision for AmCham Slovenia can be expressed in one sentence: to enable the full potential of Slovenia. I believe AmCham should be a promoter of trust, high ambition, and optimism—qualities that help a society look forward and think big. Slovenia has strong aspirations to be among the most successful countries, yet we often face challenges in consistently executing our goals. AmCham can bridge this gap by connecting key stakeholders, encouraging cooperation, and translating ambition into results.
Our members trust AmCham because it delivers value and represents a community that genuinely wants positive change. Coming from the technological world, I also see a major opportunity in digital transformation. Artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and data-driven solutions are reshaping global competitiveness. Slovenia can leverage these technologies to strengthen its position regionally and globally. When business does well, society prospers, and AmCham can be a catalyst for this progress.”

“Investors recognise our potential but expect a more predictable, competitive environment.”

What makes Slovenia an attractive destination for business and investment?

“Slovenia is not just a nice dot on the map. We are a right-sized, agile, and innovative nation that increasingly proves itself not only in sport but also in global business. Our traditional strengths—excellent geolocation, strong talent, and high quality of life—remain important, yet what truly differentiates us is passion, strong skills, innovation capability, and a complete ecosystem concentrated on a small geography.
At the same time, Slovenia still attracts only a small share of Europe’s strategic investment capital. Discussions at the recent Investment and Development Conference and Slovenia Business Bridge showed that investors recognise our potential but expect a more predictable, competitive environment. If we improve conditions for foreign investors and make scaling easier, Slovenia can attract more strategic capital and develop true regional market leaders.”

Our focus will be on scale, ambition, and the ability to turn ideas into concrete impact—qualities that Slovenia needs to strengthen its competitiveness.

Which program would you highlight within AmCham, and are new initiatives planned?

“All AmCham programs are important and have proven their value. I would especially highlight AmCham Young Platform and AmCham Advocacy. Both demonstrate something rare: genuine engagement and inclusiveness from members who want to contribute to the broader community, not only advance their own business interests. We do not intend to replace what already works extremely well. Instead, we want to build on these strong foundations, empower existing programs, and expand their reach. Our focus will be on scale, ambition, and the ability to turn ideas into concrete impact—qualities that Slovenia needs to strengthen its competitiveness.”