Up to now the government program, which was adopted in the frameworks of the Act on Regional Development for 2011-2016, hasn't delivered any significant results. Every fifth citizen of Bela krajina is unemployed. But despite all that locals hoped that the promised 170 million euros for the region's transport infrastructure would change things for the better.
At the moment, however, the planned tunnel through the Gorjanci mountain range won't be built - at least not until the year 2029. Because of that Novo mesto will still have to wait for better transport links with the rest of Slovenia. The region's weak transport network is one of the main reasons why potential investors avoid Bela krajina, even before they consider investing.
The mayors of the Bela krajina regions are aware of the problems they face, but there is very little they can do to attract more investors. Recently the Municipality of Semič decided to cut municipal taxes in order to attract investors. The news of the stopping of the Pokolpje program, due to the latest government austerity measures, has now made the region’s mayors even more determined to hold a meeting with the country's PM, who last visited Bela krajina before the elections.