| Economy |
General Laško is the economic centre of the Posavinje (the lower part of Savinja Valley). As a market and the seat of a country court it was mentioned in 1227, seven hundred years later it became a town. Higher economic growth was often impossible because of the narrowness and closeness of bigger and economically stronger Celje. The beginnings of mining and industry in Laško go back to the 18th and 19th century. In the first half of the 19th century a coalmine and a small brewery were settled. In the wartime of Yugoslavia two textile factories were built within the area of Podšmihel. After the Second World War a furniture factory, a factory producing insulating material, a slaughterhouse, processing meat and electro-metal industry grew. In the town only food-processing industry remained, other industries were mainly moved to the Reèiška dolina (Reèica valley). The coalmine Laško was closed because of too high expenses soon after Slovenia gained independence although a coal quality was excellent. The same faith shared a textile factory in Podšmihel, destroyed by a keen competition. Today there are quite a few companies which develop successfully and employ a larger number of workers within the area of Laško. But the problem of the economy in Laško remains the same as it was at the beginning – road connections with the main arterial roads in Slovenia. Similar to other parts of Slovenia the town is confronted with the problem of enlivening the old town core because the commercial activities move from the centre to suburbs. The locals see the future of the municipality of Laško and the town Laško especially in tourism and economic activities, relating to tourism. |
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