Topic: 2024-Supply Chain Stability
Country: Slovenia
Delegate Name: Ava Tate
The Republic of Slovenia understands the seriousness of maintaining a stable supply chain. As a crucial connector of trade in the Adriatic Sea and the Balkans, we are no stranger to how insufficiencies in the supply chain can leave marks on the economic state. Slovenia is eminently committed to ensuring considerable changes in the handling of the supply chains are made. With ambitious hopes of conserving the international community’s prosperity, Slovenia strongly supports efforts to develop infrastructure, technology, and sustainability of supply chains.
Supply chains for critical goods such as grain, semiconductors, and chemicals utilized in manufacturing have become threatened by world events such as Russia’s war on Ukraine, and the global COVID 19 pandemic. In Slovenia we have faced a significant downturn in economic growth because of these issues, going from 8.2% in 2021 to only 2.5% in 2023. With Slovenian domestic market at only around 2 mil, Slovenia greatly relies on foreign trade. Our reliance on such trade leaves us substantially susceptible to complications instigated through the global supply chain stability. We pride ourselves in our advanced infrastructure, educated population, and EU transportation ports; therefore as proud members of the EU, we are in agreement with a series of policy suggestions composed in an EU parliamentary briefing. These policies aim to “increase domestic capacity, diversify suppliers and support the multilateral rules-based trade environment,”
Based on reports from the European parliamentary research service, Slovenia favors increasing public funding in companies allowing sectors to more strategically monitor, and stress test their supply chains; this measure will help catch vulnerabilities beforehand, thus preventing potential disruptions. Slovenia believes countries all over the globe should be open to extending trade agreements and removing tariffs to diversify markets and increase the availability of goods, ensuring that demand can be met. Along with this, it is crucial that countries take action to expand domestic production and the stockpiling of goods, in efforts to increase supply chain resilience in case of emergency.
Furthermore, Slovenia encourages that increased funding be allocated to research and innovation that will develop industrial capabilities, and strengthen transportation infrastructure; therefore, making importing and exporting goods more efficient, and less prone to potential damage. Moreover, Slovenia stands by The March 2020 EU’s “industrial Strategy” calling for putting in place a crisis-preparedness strategy in sectors where supply chains risk interruption. Ultimately Slovenia is ready to take the proposed measures for the sake of economies around the globe. We hope with your help we can make these proposals a reality,
Works Cited
“Slovenia – United States Department of State.” State Department, https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-investment-climate-statements/slovenia/. Accessed 20 November 2024.
Slovenia – Market Overview.” International Trade Administration, 18 March 2024, https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/slovenia-market-overview. Accessed 20 November 2024.
Szczepański, Marcin. “Resilience of global supply chains.” European Parliament, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2021/698815/EPRS_BRI(2021)698815_EN.pdf. Accessed 20 November 2024.
