Debate on Magna investment points to unresolved issues

The debate, organised by the regional daily Večer featured both advocates, including Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek and Magna Steyr representative Wolfgang Zitz, and opponents of the planned paintshop by the Austrian subsidiary of the Canadian giant.

Počivalšek and Zitz remain convinced that the project involving in the first phase around 400 jobs would bear fruits and that it would start operating by the end of next year.

Acknowledging responsibility for the success of the project, the minister said that "we will do everything" to bring the project home. He added that while only the first phase of the project had been confirmed so far, there would be no reason to build the paintshop if there were no plans to expand further.

While figures have not been confirmed by Magna, the investment is said to include up to four phases that could potentially create up...