GEA College Establishes New Entrepreneurial Partnerships with China

Ljubljana, 16 October 2026 – Today, GEA College officially signed a cooperation agreement with the Chinese higher education institution CHENGDU INDUSTRY AND TRADE College during the event Entrepreneurship as a Bridge between Slovenia and China. The agreement marks an important step in expanding GEA College’s international network of partners and creating new opportunities for cooperation with China. The partnership will provide students and academic staff with new opportunities to exchange knowledge and experience, while also paving the way for joint projects and stronger links with the business community.

For more than 36 years, GEA College has been building its international network by connecting education, research and business. With more than 60 partner institutions abroad, it enables students and academic staff to gain experience in diverse academic environments and establish international connections. The partnership with CHENGDU INDUSTRY AND TRADE College further expands this network to China.
The agreement envisages various forms of cooperation, including student and faculty exchanges, joint research projects, guest lectures, entrepreneurship competitions and student projects. An important aspect of the partnership is also cooperation with the business community, as it creates opportunities for joint initiatives and for establishing connections between Slovenian and Chinese companies.
With a population of approximately 21 million, Chengdu is one of China’s largest cities and a major economic hub in western China. The city is characterised by strong economic and technological development, as well as increasingly close links between educational institutions and the business sector, making it an important environment for international cooperation.

From the Slovenian Delegation’s Visit to China to the Establishment of a Partnership

The partnership was established as part of broader efforts to strengthen economic and institutional cooperation between Slovenia and China. A key milestone leading to the agreement was the visit of a Slovenian business delegation to Chengdu in May 2026, which was also attended by Katja Kraškovic, MSc, Director and Dean of GEA College – Faculty of Entrepreneurship. During the visit, she established new connections and explored opportunities for cooperation with educational institutions and international partners.
According to Ms Kraškovic, GEA College has been committed for many years to connecting knowledge, different cultures and business environments through entrepreneurship. “The partnership with CHENGDU INDUSTRY AND TRADE College represents an important step in strengthening our international engagement and opening up new opportunities for students, academic staff and the Slovenian business community. I am delighted that, in such a short period of time, we have been able to develop the contacts established during our visit to Chengdu in May into a concrete partnership. Our goal is to bring this agreement to life through joint projects, the exchange of knowledge and entrepreneurial experience, and stronger connections between the Slovenian and Chinese business environments. I firmly believe that educational institutions can play an important role in building long-term international partnerships,” emphasised the Director and Dean of GEA College.

The delegation’s visit in May was organised by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (CCIS), its Ljubljana Regional Chamber, SPIRIT Slovenia and the Slovenian-Chinese Business Council at the CCIS, in cooperation with the City of Ljubljana and the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Beijing.
Nataša Kos, Deputy Director of SPIRIT Slovenia, and Gordana Kisilak, Director of the Ljubljana Regional Chamber at the CCIS, also contributed to the organisation and networking activities.
Ms Kisilak believes that the true value of business delegations becomes evident when the contacts established develop into concrete partnerships, and adds: “The agreement between GEA College and CHENGDU INDUSTRY AND TRADE College is a perfect example of this. At the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, we do not view internationalisation merely as supporting companies in entering foreign markets, but rather as a long-term process of building connections. We help our members identify opportunities, establish contacts with suitable partners and develop cooperation. Connecting businesses with educational and research institutions also plays an important role in this process, as knowledge transfer, entrepreneurship and innovation form the foundations of long-term competitiveness. I am pleased that, as a chamber, we can actively contribute to the development of such partnerships.”

The visit to China in May 2026 took place as part of the 45th anniversary of the partnership between Ljubljana and Chengdu. It provided an opportunity to strengthen relations between the two countries and establish new business, institutional and educational connections.
The delegation also participated in the 2026 Chengdu International Friendship Cities Cooperation and Development Conference, an international event dedicated to strengthening cooperation, fostering connections between cities and developing new partnerships.
The contacts established during the visit subsequently led to the preparation of a cooperation agreement, which was signed today during the visit of a business delegation from Chengdu to Slovenia. The delegation was organised by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, its Ljubljana Regional Chamber, SPIRIT Slovenia and the Slovenian-Chinese Business Council at the CCIS, in cooperation with SPIRIT Slovenia, the Ministry of the Economy, Labour and Sport, and the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Beijing.