Trade and diplomacy in focus as Suffolk Chamber welcomes Slovenian Ambassador

Suffolk Chamber welcomed members, partners and international guests to a special Suffolk Chamber International Trade Group meeting on Thursday 11 June at SEERS Medical in Debenham, focused on the UK’s evolving relationship with the EU and the growing commercial potential of Slovenia.

Titled Reset, Reconnect & Grow: EU Relations & Trading with Slovenia, the event brought together businesses and stakeholders from across logistics, shipping, manufacturing, engineering, professional services, food and drink, and the public sector for a morning of market insight, practical discussion and networking.

Hosted in partnership with SEERS Medical, a Suffolk-based manufacturer exporting specialist medical equipment worldwide, the session featured welcome remarks from H.E. Sanja Štiglic, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to the United Kingdom. Attendees also heard insight on the UK–EU relationship from Gail Braybrook of the Diplomatic Advisory Hub, alongside a market overview from Tamara Zajec Balažič, Director of SPIRIT Slovenia Business Development Agency.

The event reflects Suffolk Chamber’s continued commitment to supporting internationally active businesses as they navigate market change, build connections and identify opportunities for growth. It also included a guided tour of the SEERS Medical site, highlighting a Suffolk-based success story in global manufacturing and export.

H.E. Sanja Štiglic, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to the United Kingdom, said:
“It has been a pleasure to visit Suffolk and engage with such a dynamic and outward-looking business community.

A close strategic partnership between the EU and the UK remains of crucial importance, and we are keen to see this translate into concrete results.

Slovenia is a small, open and export-driven economy with strong capabilities across advanced manufacturing, automotive, pharmaceuticals, green technologies, ICT, logistics and high-quality food and drink. We see clear potential to strengthen bilateral cooperation with the UK, particularly through active economic diplomacy.

With excellent connectivity between Slovenia and key UK cities, and our central European location, Slovenia is a highly accessible partner for business.

I am confident that the discussions here in Suffolk will help identify new opportunities for collaboration and lead to meaningful future partnerships.”

Tamara Zajec Balažič, Director of SPIRIT Slovenia Business Development Agency, said:

“It was a pleasure to attend the International Trade Group meeting and to exchange views on how we can strengthen cooperation between Slovenia and the United Kingdom.

The UK remains one of Slovenia’s key economic partners, and there is still clear potential to grow trade, investment and innovation links between us.

At SPIRIT Slovenia, we work closely with companies to connect them with the right partners and help turn interest into real cooperation. In that sense, the cooperation agreement with Suffolk Chamber feels like a natural next step. It helps us build on what is already there and bring our business communities even closer together.

I am grateful for the opportunity to present Slovenia’s strengths and to speak directly with institutions and businesses here in Suffolk — these conversations are where real connections start.

We look forward to continuing this work and will be back in the UK, in Manchester, in October to take another step towards bringing our markets even closer together for the benefit of businesses on both sides.”

Stuart Gregory, Chair of the Suffolk Chamber International Trade Group and Managing Director of Wallis Shipping Services, said:

“This meeting is about giving Suffolk businesses direct access to timely intelligence, real-world trading insight and meaningful international connections. By bringing together expertise on the EU trading landscape with a spotlight on Slovenia, we are helping businesses look ahead with greater clarity and confidence.”

Koyas Miah, International Trade Manager at Suffolk Chamber, said:

“This event has been designed to give our members practical insight into both the wider EU trading picture and a specific market with real potential. Slovenia is a dynamic, well-connected economy, and by bringing together senior diplomatic, trade and business voices in Suffolk, we hope to spark valuable conversations and future collaboration.”

The Suffolk Chamber International Trade Group acts as a catalyst for international trade activity across the county, creating a forum for peer-to-peer exchange, expert insight and discussion on the issues shaping global business. This latest meeting builds on that mission by connecting Suffolk firms with national policy expertise and international market intelligence in one setting.