The number of business entities registered in Slovenia rose by 4.3 percent in 2005, the second year in a row that saw their numbers grow, according to data available on Saturday from the July issue of the Economic Mirror.

According to the data, the growth in the number of business entities was the highest in the manufacturing and business services sector where 54.5 percent (4,497) of all new companies were registered. The number of new companies in industry and construction was 2,441 (29.6 percent).

The report, published by the Institute for Macroeconomic Analysis and Development, also states that in the 2003-2005 period the number of micro companies in Slovenia increased by 9.1 percent (7,925), the number of small companies by 6.3 percent (304), of middle-sized enterprises by 2.7 percent, while the number of large companies dropped by 5.3 percent.

The report adds that the number of employed increased by 1.8 percent in the same period as the result.

According to the Economic Mirror, the rise can be connected to favorable macroeconomic conditions, new business opportunities, lower interest rates and cuts to the red tape.

Source: Xinhua