SWG Agro-food Presentation of region and cluster-activities PP6 – Maribor development Agency Sofia, November 25th, 2010

Podravje region: between the Austrian border in the north and the Croatian border in the south- east area of km² (10.7% of the national territory) inhabitants (16.1% of the national population)

Agriculture in Slovenia state of Slovenia: km 2, 0,12 ha fields per capita (the smallest field area per capita in Europe), favourable climate and geographical position, high fragmentation of landed properties (average farm size: 3,2 ha), 90% of agricultural ground is privately owned, share of companies in gross value of agricultural production is still very important

Agriculture in Podravje Region the highest share of utilised agricultural area in Slovenia (82,000 hectares) the leading region in terms of the number of agricultural holdings. cereals in more than half of fields stockbreeding (cattle farming, pig production, poultry breeding, small cattle breeding - sheep, goats) viticulture and fruit-growin g

Institutions in Podravje region: Agriculture and Forestry Institute Maribor University of Maribor – Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science Food Technology School of Maribor – Vocational College Larger enterprises in Podravje region: Perutnina Ptuj (producer of poultry meat and products) Vinag (fruit cultivation and wine production) Kosaki (producer of meat and meat products) Gea (oil producer: pumpkin seed oil, sunflower, olive, rapeseed, soybean, corn germ oil, cold pressed and virgin oils) PC Zito Intes (milling and pasta industry) Ljubljanske mlekarne d.d. – processing plant in Maribor (producer of milk and milk products) Slosad - processing plant of Eta (fruit and vegetable processing)

Cluster potential in the region no official cluster in the area of agro food sector, BUT a potential for its creation is provided: Regional cluster development strategy (2008), several SMEs, R&D institutions, University,… ADC project activities to be used as preparatory activity for creation of cluster / network

Structure of regional partners - RFG Maribor Development Agency, Regional Chamber of commerce and industry, Regional Chamber of Craft, Agency for International Marketing (external expert), EEN network on national level Above mentioned partnership represents the core RFG Group which will be enlarged with SME representatives.

Expectations of regional partners & SMEs clear definition what support will be offered by partner regions to participating clusters and SMEs, definition of subsectors to be agreed in 2010, follow-up activities and individual partner search services to be offered, partners (and clusters) should agree what support & cooperation can be expected after 2011

Experience in similar activities MDA is coordinator of internationalisation activities of the Slovenian EEN network, organisation or participation at min. 6 PEV events per year (plus animation of SMEs for events), coordinator of clustering activities in the Podravje region