On 4 December 2010, the Embassy had participated in a Charity Bazaar organized by the Slovenian International Ladies Association (SILA) in Ljubljana, the capital city of Slovenia. Our participation was made possible with the active support from Mr. Anton Papes, Malaysian Honorary Consul in Ljubljana, which provided the logistical arrangement and coordination with the local organizer for the event. The purpose of the bazaar was to raise fund for various charitable programmes for the orphanages and children hospitals in Slovenia. More than 40 countries participated in the event which had attracted more than 5000 people for the bazaar.
Encouraged with the objectives of the bazaar, the Embassy staff traveled 500 km down to Ljubljana by road during the cold winter and brought along a variety of typically Malaysian handicrafts, merchandise and traditional food products donated by Malaysian companies such as MAMEE, Universal Nutri Beverages Sdn Bhd, Rafulin Ventures Sdn Bhd for sales at our 1Malaysia booth.
The 1Malaysia booth must be one of the most popular and well visited, which had kept our staff busy but enjoyed entertaining all inquires about Malaysia by enthusiastic visitors who were deeply interested to have first hand information about Malaysia and its success story. Mr. Papez, the Honorary Consul in Ljubljana, himself a frequent visitor to Malaysia, had helped answered enquiries and advised Slovenian visitors on the best places to visit as well as other consular questions such as visa requirements. Many had also requested for more Malaysian traditional food and products to be sold at the bazaar.
The interest and enthusiasm shown by the visitors about Malaysia and the Slovenians positive attitude towards charitable activities has encouraged us to participate in the future event.