Samoil Filipovski
Ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia
Mr Filipovski is a lawyer by education and has additionally specialised in the fields of Business law, Trade law and Penal law: has been researching extradition and transfer of convicts according to European conventions. Before taking on the post of Ambassador to Slovenia in 2006, he has worked as an attorney. He was also a member of Judicial council of the Macedonian Government and an affiliate member of Eurolegal European attorney association. Already in 2005, he has initiated the Slovene-Macedonian business Club.
Ambassador Filipovski’s effort in enhancing economic ties has resulted in many successful ventures; Slovenia has become one of the biggest investors in the southernmost former Yugoslav republic. He also made a notable positive impact on cultural exchange between the two countries.
Privately: A family man, father of two kids, who as well enjoy spending time in the nature, which he finds plenty here in Slovenia, particularly in Trenta, Soča and Logarska valleys or Kozjansko natural park. His favourite sports are skiing and bicycling. He respects the environmental awareness of Slovenes as well as their attitude for sports, both in terms of daily recreation and top achievements.
Zhi Zhaolin
Ambassador of China
Professionally: Mr Zhaolin is a professional diplomat and has served in many countries in Europe and Asia. From 2000 to 2004, he was the Chinese Ambassador to Croatia. Since 2007, he has been the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Slovenia.
During his term, he has actively committed himself to promoting and deepening the relations of friendship and cooperation between the countries. His efforts resulted in many high-level visits: both President Türk and former Prime Minister Janša visited China during Zhaolin’s term, while Slovenia hosted Jia Qinglin, Chairman of the National Committee of the Political Consultative Conference and Hui Liangi, Vice-Premier of the State Council.
In economy, trade relations have gone steeply upwards, with over USD 1 bn trade in 2008; interest in mutual investment has also risen sharply. Cooperation in culture, education, technology, defence, agriculture and tourism is also expanding. Through his efforts, the Confucius Institute will soon be open within the University of Ljubljana; this will serve as a platform for better communication and understanding between the countries.
He was excited to learn that the globalisation has made China and Slovenia only a ten-hour flight from each other. Zhi Zhaolin sincerely hopes that Slovenian entrepreneurs will seize the opportunity to take advantage of the good political relations, make an early decision to enter Chinese market and, at the same time, promote relations of friendship and cooperation between the countries.
Privately: Most of all, he enjoys reading and walking.
Ahmed Farouk
Ambassador of Egypt
Professionally: Ahmed Farouk has been the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Slovenia since September 2007. Previously, he took part in the Egyptian Delegation that was involved in the peace process in the Middle East between 1993 and 1994 (the Gaza-Jericho Agreement). This is but one item on Mr Farouk’s enviable list of achievements.
He helped to bring the first FDI from Egypt to Slovenia through El Sewedy Group and Iskra Emeko CO, as well as sending the first FDI to Egypt from Slovenia through the Luka Koper port and the port of Alexandria, which resulted in a cold chain between the two ports for fruit and vegetable exports. He has established a business council between the chambers of commerce, encouraged many Egyptians to invest in Slovenia and thus opened new markets for Slovenian products in the Middle East. He also helped in establishing the Slovene-Egyptian Business Women’s Association.
In the cultural field he was, among others, involved in Egyptian cultural year in Ljubljana to Slovenia with films, concerts and the “Pharaonic Renaissance,” the first exhibition ever in Slovenia showcasing original Egyptian pieces.
He emphatically states that Slovenia and Egypt had enjoyed excellent relations since 1991, which is something that continues even to this day at all the highest levels. Privately: Mr Farouk hobbies include playing the piano and doing all kinds of sport, particularly squash.
Villur Sundararajan Seshadri
Ambassador of India
Professionally: Thanks to Mr Seshadri, the newly established Indian Embassy is now completely operational, not only for visa and consular needs, but in deepening relations in the political, economic, cultural, scientific, technological and other spheres.
The past year witnessed many successful events, such as the visit of the Minister of State for External Affairs of India Shrimati Preneet Kaur who participated in the Bled Strategic Forum and also held bilateral meetings. The visit was returned by a delegation from the newly established Slovene Parliamentary Friendship Group, soon followed by a strong business delegation.
Business has progressed: 14 small scale Indian companies participated for the first time in the International Trade Fair in Celje. A 15-member Slovene business delegation also visited India in December. Most importantly, bilateral trade witnessed a sharp rise of 30% last year even during a period of global downturn. There was also much activity in the cultural and intellectual spheres. Beside Indian performers visiting Slovenia, it is essential to mention the international conference, an interactive Round Table on Non-violence, and most importantly, the establishment of a Hindi chair in the Faculty of Arts in the University of Ljubljana.
Privately: Despite full engagement in the embassy activities, he finds some time to enjoy the country with his wife Vidya, who too has been actively involved in the work of Slovene International Ladies Association (SILA), its annual charity bazaar and much else.
Jacqueline Stuart
Director of Slovenia Invest
The United Kingdom
Professionally: Ms Stuart is the director of Slovenia’s first international commercial real estate company. The company was launched in February 2008, and has fast become the dominant player in commercial real estate, including sales of hotels, land, restaurants, office projects and industrial property.
Other activities include consulting for banks and institutional investors, and representing tenants for international firms looking for premises in Slovenia. The company’s biggest achievement to date is the sale of the Bellevue Hotel in Ljubljana to a Luxembourg fund, which has plans to restore and develop the property into 5-star luxury hotel. She enjoys the daily challenges of working in an interesting and rapidly changing market. She has a monthly column in Finance, Slovenia’s daily financial newspaper, and contributes in-depth articles on the real estate industry.
Privately: After living in Spain, Greece, Sweden and Austria, she moved to Slovenia in 2006, to enjoy life in the “last green jewel of Europe,” where she dedicates her free time to skiing in winter and spending time on her boat in summer. There are many things she likes about Slovenia: the relaxed way of life, the outdoors and the beautiful countryside. Her short-term ambition is to improve her Slovene. She has an eight-year-old son, who attends the British School and is currently in his fourth year of training with the Triglav ski team in Kranj.
