Hrastnik as a Hub of New Opportunities

On the 13th September 2025, the Municipality of Hrastnik hosted an important event dedicated to presenting projects for the future development of the former mining area. The municipality was visited by the Minister for Cohesion and Regional Development, Dr. Aleksander Jevšek and the Minister of the Economy, Tourism and Sport, Matjaž Han.

Together with the municipal leadership, project implementers and partners, representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia and the Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute, the ministers toured the construction sites of the Business Incubator and the Rudnik Business Zone. Work at both locations is progressing rapidly, with completion scheduled for May 2026. During the visit, guests discussed possible solutions and directions that would enable the area to be transformed as quickly as possible into a modern business and development center.

The event also included the presentation of the project Reindustrialisation under the principle "Brownfield is Better than Greenfield" – ReInd-BBG and a tour of the pilot site. The project is supported by the Interreg Danube programme and co-financed by the European Union. On this occasion, the municipality presented its vision of how the revitalisation of the mining area will give Hrastnik a new hub of innovation, entrepreneurship,and craftsmanship.

The ministers and participating partners highlighted, that the projects are not just about constructing new facilities but above all about creating new opportunities for the local community.

With this event, Hrastnik once again demonstrated its determination to transform its mining heritage into a story of development and new beginnings.