MScIB Business Trip in Slovenia and Croatia

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Over five (very) intensive days, with an agenda organized by the Trade and Investment Office of ACCIÓ in Zagreb, with Jorge Salgado and Sjepan Mihovil in charge, and accompanied by professors Joan Pere Plaza, leading the expedition, Mercè Roca, and Tomislav Rimac, the Master of Science in International Business students engaged directly with local companies that operate internationally, as well as foreign companies that have chosen Slovenia and Croatia for their internationalisation.

The trip provided an invaluable academic window into how these nations act as the strategic gate to the Western Balkans, balancing deep European integration with their inclusion in a regional context with a long historical and cultural tradition. It also provided a roundup of the many discussions held in class since the academic year started in September.

The mission commenced in Slovenia, highlighting logistics, sustainability, and industrial capacities. An early start led the group to the facilities of Incom Leone, an innovative leader in the ice cream manufacturing sector and, more recently, in the confectionery chocolate sector. This was followed by a visit to REM, a company reshaping modular construction. The journey continued towards the coast, where students visited InnoRenew CoE, a research institute based in Izola that promotes innovation in sustainable wood and renewable materials.

The academic focus then shifted toward critical infrastructure and tech integration. In the short Slovenian coastline, the students had the opportunity to visit the Port of Koper, a vital maritime gateway connecting central European trade with Northern Africa and the Middle East. This focus on key infrastructure was complemented with a split visit to the Krško Nuclear Power Plant (NEK) — a landmark of bilateral energy cooperation between Slovenia and Croatia — and HESS Hydroelectric Power Plant in Brezice, close to the international border.

Moving into Croatia, the digital and strategic communications landscape came to life in Zagreb. Students delivered pitch presentations at Manjgura, a premier public relations and strategic communications agency, and at Velebit AI, an AI problem-solution-oriented consultancy firm that proposed a deep dive into advanced machine learning architectures and the tailor-made solutions it has created for its clients over the years.

Finally, the MScIB explored the world-class Rimac Campus, with a firsthand dive into how a regional startup has evolved into a global automotive tech powerhouse. This was paired with a visit to Tokić, Croatia’s leading automotive parts distributor, illustrating advanced supply chain management under a very successful franchising model.

The trip concluded on a note about the hospitality sector. Students had the opportunity to meet the Slovenia Hotels Manager for Eurostars Hotel Company at the historic Grand Hotel Union.

This business trip proved that Slovenia and Croatia are far more than beautiful landscapes; they are dynamic economies positioned at a geopolitical crossroads in Southeastern Europe. For the students, understanding this region was insightful in decoding economic realities, supply chains, and regional challenges that are essential to International Business.