Republic of Slovenia

Brazil was one of the first countries to recognize the independence of Slovenia, in May 1992 - until then, Slovenia was part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The Embassy of Brazil in Ljubljana was opened in 2008. The Embassy of Slovenia in Brasilia was inaugurated in 2010.

The first bilateral contacts were established through the representations of both countries to the UN. In this context, Slovenia is in favor of the reform of the UN Security Council, having advocated a proposal to expand the organ very similar to the project advocated by Brazil, Germany, India and Japan (G4). Recent examples of bilateral cooperation within the UN framework are the Brazilian support Slovenia's membership to the Human Rights Council (2016-2018 term) and the Slovenian co-sponsorship of the Resolution "Right to Privacy in the Digital Age" presented by Brazil and Germany to the UN General Assembly in 2013.

The installation of the Embassy of Brazil in Ljubljana helped strengthen economic and trade relations, including attracting Brazilian exporters to the port of Koper, a major gateway to central Europe. Slovenian companies, especially in the pharmaceutical, viation and civil construction sectors, have indicated interest in developing partnerships with Brazilian companies.

In November 2017, with the presence of then-SGEC Ambassador Santiago Mourão, the II Meeting of the Brazil-Slovenia Joint Economic Cooperation Commission was held in Ljubljana. At the time, both countries strengthened the centrality of bilateral relations. The meeting ratified the commitment to organize the First Meeting of the Joint Commission for Scientific and Technological Cooperation, in Brasilia; allowed the streghthening of ties between Suape Port and Koper Port; and attended to the Framework Agreement for Educational Cooperation.

Scientific-technological cooperation is an important aspect of bilateral relations. Since 2009, joint biddings have been launched to sponsor binational research projects in sectors such as biochemistry and materials for the aeronautical industry. Research institutions from both countries, such as the National Institute of Biology (NIB) and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - UFRJ) have formalized cooperation agreements and held teacher exchange programs.

The Brazilian and Slovenian Governments have also undertaken projects to strengthen cultural ties between countries, such as translations of contemporary Brazilian authors - such as Bernardo de Carvalho and Cristóvão Tezza - and the launching of the first reference book on the history of Slovenia to be published in Brazil by FUNAG.

Bilateral trade grew by more than 30 percent from 2015 to 2018, when it reached $ 578 million.

Chronology of bilateral relations

2017 – Second Meeting of the Brazil-Slovenia Joint Economic Cooperation Commission in Ljubljana (November)

2015 – Visit of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, Karl Erjavec, to Brazil (March 23-25)

2013 – Bilateral meeting of President Dilma Rousseff and the Head of State Slovenian, Borut Pahor, on the sidelines of the Pope Francis' Mass for the Inauguration of the Pontificate (Rome)

2012 – Visit to São Paulo of business and science, technology and innovation mission of Slovenia, headed by the Minister of Economic Development and Technology of Slovenia, Radovan Zerjav

2011 – The Minister of Defense of Slovenia, Ljubica Jelusic, visits Brazil

2011 – Framework Agreement for Cooperation in the Educational Domain

2010 – Opening of the Embassy of Slovenia in Brasilia

2010 – Business Mission of the Brazilian Agency for the Promotion of Exports and Investments (Apex-Brazil) to Slovenia 

2009 – Signing of General Agreement between the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and the National Institute of Biology of the Republic of Slovenia (NIB) having as object the exchange of faculty, students and technical-administrative staff and teaching, research and extension activities

2009 – The Minister of Defense, Nelson Jobim, visits Slovenia 

2008 – The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Celso Amorim, makes official visit to Slovenia in the context of the Ministerial Meeting of the EU - Brazil High Level Political Dialogue

2008 – Opening of the Embassy of Brazil in Ljubljana

2008 – The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Danilo Turk makes official visit to Brazil, in the context of the preparation for the EU-Latin America Summit (EULAC)

2007 – Signing of a bilateral cooperation covenant between CNPq (National Counsil of Technological and Scientific Development) and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology of Slovenia (in force since 2009)

2002 – The Minister of Science and Technology, Ambassador Ronaldo Sardenberg, visits Slovenia 

1998 – The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, Boris Frlec, visits Brazil. Signing of the Framework Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation and of the Political Consultation Memorandum

1997 – Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement

1994 – Embassy of Brazil in Vienna (Austria) becomes cumulatively responsible for relations between Brazil and Slovenia

1992 – Establishment of diplomatic relations

1992 – Brazil recognizes the independence of Slovenia