SMB Forum MERCOSUR – EU Koper 2026

First Edition – Official Report and Acknowledgements

Pretorian Palace, Koper - Slovenia

The IVEJM Institute is honored to present the official report of the first edition of the SMB Forum MERCOSUR – EU Koper 2026, an international gathering held in Koper, Slovenia, bringing together government authorities, public institutions, multilateral organizations, chambers of commerce, universities, companies, and business leaders from Europe and Latin America.

The main objective of this event was to strengthen economic and strategic dialogue between the European Union and MERCOSUR countries, fostering international cooperation, investment, sustainable development, and the creation of new business opportunities between both regions.

A platform for interregional dialogue

The first edition of the forum established itself as a high-level institutional and business platform, addressing key topics such as:

• International trade and EU–MERCOSUR agreements

• Agriculture, agro-industry, and sustainability

• Energy, automotive industry, and logistics

• Financing instruments and investment mechanisms

• Success stories and international cooperation models

The exchange enabled the identification of concrete opportunities for collaboration between public and private sector stakeholders, while strengthening strategic networks between Central Europe and South America.

Acknowledgement to Slovenian authorities and institutions

The IVEJM Institute expresses its deepest gratitude to the authorities of the Republic of Slovenia for their institutional support and active participation in this first edition.

In particular, we sincerely thank:

• The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia

• The Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport of the Republic of Slovenia, with special recognition to Mr. Nejc Perhovec for his continuous support and commitment from the earliest stages of this initiative

• The Municipality of Koper and Mayor Aleš Bržan

• SPIRIT Slovenia

• SID Bank (Slovenian Export and Development Bank)

• Chamber of Commerce of Primorska

• Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry of Slovenia (KGZS)

• University of Primorska

These institutions played a key role in both the organization and the strategic content of the forum.

International participation and MERCOSUR cooperation

The forum benefited from strong participation from Latin America and international organizations, including:

• SloPar Chamber of Commerce and Santa Margarita (Paraguay)

• Embassy of Slovenia in Argentina, accredited to Paraguay

• Honorary Consulate of Slovenia in Paraguay

• MERCOSUR–ASEAN Chamber of Commerce

• National Forestry Institute of Paraguay

• CONCOPAR Agro-Industrial Cooperative

• HidroBio and FRONIVA (Paraguay)

• Experts from the agro-industrial, energy, logistics, and automotive sectors across MERCOSUR

• Universidad Internacional de Desarrollo (Paraguay)

The participation of representatives from financial and development institutions, including the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), further strengthened the global dimension of the forum.

Companies, organizations, and sponsors

The IVEJM Institute extends its special thanks to all companies, organizations, and sponsors that made this first edition possible:

HidroBio, Santa Margarita, Pokica, Nerda Nepremičnine, IVEJM, as well as all other participating companies, chambers of commerce, sector associations, academic institutions, and organizations that contributed with their presence, support, and engagement.

Their participation was essential to the success of the forum and to the creation of a meaningful environment for public-private cooperation.

A beginning with a long-term vision

The first edition of the SMB Forum MERCOSUR – EU marks the beginning of a long-term initiative aimed at becoming an international reference platform for economic dialogue between Central Europe and Latin America.

While this inaugural edition has been considered a success, the IVEJM Institute recognizes the importance of continuous improvement and development. This commitment to growth is a core part of the project’s vision.

The objective is clear: to establish this forum as a recognized platform not only in Slovenia, but across Europe and MERCOSUR countries, strengthening its international impact, visibility, and relevance.

Final appreciation

We extend our sincere gratitude to all participants, panelists, moderators, authorities, companies, and institutions who contributed to this event.

Without their trust, engagement, and commitment, this initiative would not have been possible.

The IVEJM Institute reaffirms its commitment to continue building bridges between regions, promoting international cooperation, and generating real opportunities for development.

Next edition

With great enthusiasm, we are already preparing the second edition of the SMB Forum MERCOSUR – EU 2027, aiming to further expand its scope, impact, and international relevance.

IVEJM Institute