Slovenia and Hungary Concluded SME Support Program
Export agencies helped small firms improve their competitiveness and advance green initiatives.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Business — General
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Spirit Slovenija and the Hungarian Export Promotion Agency (Hepa) have finalized a collaborative European project. The initiative provided targeted resources for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to enhance their operational competitiveness and green transitions.
Why it matters
Cross-border cooperation between trade agencies helps small businesses navigate the logistical and regulatory complexities of international markets. These initiatives provide the structured support necessary for SMEs to adopt sustainable practices while maintaining export performance.
Spirit Slovenija and Hepa successfully completed a joint project to support SMEs. The scope involved two national export promotion agencies collaborating to reach a wider base of businesses, though the total number of participants is currently unknown.
The players
Spirit Slovenija
The public agency responsible for supporting Slovenian companies with exports, internationalization, and foreign direct investment.
Hepa
The Hungarian Export Promotion Agency tasked with increasing the export capacity of Hungarian businesses through international market development.
The details
The project focused on building operational capacity for SMEs to compete more effectively across European markets. Agencies utilized the joint framework to streamline access to resources for firms looking to integrate sustainable transitions into their primary business models. This collaborative structure allowed both Slovenian and Hungarian entities to share best practices in trade promotion.
Timeline
October 13, 2026: Spirit Slovenija and Hepa concluded the joint project.
Market Landscape
This collaboration reflects the ongoing alignment of national trade policies with the European Union SME Strategy for a sustainable and digital Europe. By pooling resources, Slovenia and Hungary are following a documented trend of regional cooperation to boost small-firm resilience.
Operators should monitor future joint initiatives by these agencies for potential new grant or resource windows. Engaging with national export promotion services can provide SMEs with early access to competitive intelligence and sustainability benchmarks.
The takeaway
Collaborative export projects offer SMEs a pathway to scale through shared international resources. Business owners should verify if their firm meets the eligibility criteria for future agency-led support programs by maintaining active contact with their local trade bureau.
Further reading
For broader trends in international trade policy, visit our Business — General section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by STA d.o.o..
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