Slovenia seeking PHL smart-energy partners

SLOVENIAN COMPANIES are looking for Philippine partnerships in smart energy and smart infrastructure projects, according to the International Center for Promotion of Enterprises (ICPE).

ICPE advisor Jure Tomc told reporters on Monday that Slovenian companies are targeting deals with over 20 major Philippine groups, including Metro Pacific Investment Corp. and JG Summit Holdings, Inc.

The list also includes Aboitiz Power Corp., ACEN Corp., First Gen Corp., Petron Corp., International Container Terminal Services, Inc., and MORE Electric & Power Corp.

Slovenian companies, such as Robotina and Waboost, are hoping to engage with Philippine energy and water firms and make their pitch with projects involving digital infrastructure, electric vehicle manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and automation.

Robotina provides smart-energy management solutions for industry, buildings, and smart cities, while Waboost designs and delivers smart, chemical-free water treatment systems that enhance water quality, efficiency, and sustainability across multiple industries.

“We are definitely focusing on low-hanging fruit — technologies we already know work, where we have deployment projects globally,” Mr. Tomc said.

“I hope to replicate them in the Philippines as well. We won’t go and try something new but something which has been tested and used so we can quickly create value,” he added.

ICPE is an intergovernmental organization headquartered in Slovenia focused on promoting “sustainable enterprise development, technology transfer, and capacity building in developing countries.” It supports practical cooperation between public institutions, researchers, and public/private enterprises.

Mr. Tomc said Slovenian firms entered into agreements with Philippine companies on water-related solutions last year, but they are looking to secure more deals this year.

“We’ve had a lot of video conference calls with potential partners in the Philippines before we came here so a lot of the B2B meetings were pre-set and people already know who they’re talking to what the projects are,” he said.

Slovenian Ambassador Smiljana Knez said efficient and cost-effective energy production, infrastructure and usage are seen as matters of urgency.

“The choices we make about energy will shape our prosperity and security. And Slovenia stands ready to cooperate closely with the Philippines through technology sharing, academic collaboration and public-private partnerships,” she said. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera