Founders – Arab Slovenian Business Club

Founders.

The founders actively participate in the development of the club, guide its activities, and ensure that ASBC operates as a credible and professional platform for connecting companies, institutions, and professionals from both environments.Delujemo kot zanesljiv most med poslovnimi okolji Slovenije in arabskega sveta ter podpiramo dolgoročna, pregledna in zaupanja vredna partnerstva.

Radomir Putnik

Radomir Putnik is a Slovenian entrepreneur and international business consultant with more than 20 years of experience in the field of industrial valves and cross-border business development between Europe and the Middle East.

For more than two decades, he built and led business activities in the valve industry in Italy and Slovenia, closely collaborating with Italian industrial partners and supporting complex projects for the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries. During this period, he was involved in large-scale production, international supply, and technically demanding projects, including the maintenance and overhaul of valves in nuclear power plant environments.

After relocating key business activities to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Radomir Putnik became directly involved in significant industrial localization projects. He played a key role in enabling a Saudi company to become the first local supplier of large industrial valves for Saudi Aramco, representing an important milestone in technology transfer and the development of local industrial capabilities.

Since 2022, he has been continuously active in Saudi Arabia as a consultant and business developer, helping European companies enter the market, establish local partnerships, obtain certifications, and execute on-site projects. At the same time, he co-manages the company REŠENO in Slovenia, which focuses on energy engineering solutions, including solar power plants and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Today, his main mission is the active and practical connection of the Slovenian economy with Saudi Arabia. Through consulting, partnerships, and institutional cooperation, he acts as a long-term bridge between Slovenian companies and the Saudi market, with an emphasis on trust, technical credibility, and sustainable business presence.

She founded the company Center for Business Services, which provides a wide range of services essential for business operations. Her work has consistently focused on cross-border economic cooperation; for many years, she has been dedicated to internationalization, organizing numerous meetings and conferences between Slovenian and foreign companies, and coordinating business visits abroad.

In recent years, she has participated in cross-border projects as a lead partner or as a member of the team. Currently, she collaborates with companies in various areas of integration, identifies business opportunities, and promotes new forms of cooperation.

She recognized an important business opportunity for Slovenian companies in cooperation with the Arab world and joined the group of co-founders of ASBC.

Asst. Prof. Robert Klun, u. d. i. a.

Robert Klun (born in 1972 in Munich, Germany) is a Slovenian architect, designer, and entrepreneur with more than two decades of international experience in architecture, interior design, product design, and brand development. In 1999, he graduated from the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Ljubljana. During his studies, he collaborated with renowned professors, including Prof. P. McKeith (Helsinki), Prof. P. Gabrijelčič (Ljubljana), and Prof. Boris Podrecca (Vienna), and received several architectural awards for his work.

After graduation, he joined the family company Klun ambienti, today one of the leading Slovenian companies in the field of development, design, and production of upholstered furniture and comprehensive interior solutions, with a strong focus on research and development (R&D). On this foundation, he developed a broader international ecosystem of companies and brands: ROBERT KLUN ARCHITECTS, KLUN AMBIENTI, MAGNET DESIGN, GREEN STAR, and AVANT NATUR, operating at the intersection of architecture, industrial design, sustainability, and holistic spatial development.

A central part of his international work consists of projects in the Middle East, particularly in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (Dubai), where over the past 13 years he has been involved in numerous strategic and representative projects, including:
• Slovenian Pavilion EXPO 2020 Dubai – conceptual and design development of the sustainable “Green Smart Experience,” presenting Slovenia as an innovative, green, and technologically advanced country,
• Canary Hills Compound, New Khobar (KSA) – architectural and interior design and execution of more than 160 residential units,
• Marriott Hotel Riyadh, Aloft Starwood Hotel Riyadh, and Aloft Hotel Dhahran – architectural and interior projects, including the supply and installation of furniture fully developed and produced in Slovenia,
• Al Wazeer Tower Hotel, Riyadh – a large-scale high-end hospitality project,
• White Princess – Seven Gardens Villa, Riyadh – a luxury residential villa,
• KAFD Riyadh – Green Sacred Garden Experience Innovation Center – a project for the Public Investment Fund of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
• development concepts for Bedouin Luxury Villa Tents and sustainable tourist accommodations for the GCC region.

These projects are not merely architectural and interior realizations, but represent visible and lasting symbols of Slovenian knowledge, design culture, sustainable thinking, and manufacturing excellence in the Arab world. In many cases, these projects were the first direct point of contact between investors and institutions from the region and Slovenia, and today they act as some of the strongest promoters of the Slovenian economy, creative industries, and innovation in Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC region.

For more than a decade, Robert Klun has successfully connected Slovenia and Europe with the Middle East, acting as a strategic bridge between cultures, economies, and business environments. As an Assistant Professor (Asst. Prof.), architect, and entrepreneur, he actively promotes knowledge transfer between academia, practice, and industry. Within the new institute supporting the Slovenian economy in Saudi Arabia, he significantly contributes, through his experience, references, and international network, to the internationalization of Slovenian companies and the strengthening of long-term, sustainable cooperation between the two regions.

Barbara Gunčar

Barbara Gunčar is the founder of the Arab Business Club.

She is a co-owner of the company NETS, which specializes in information support for business management and the development of eQMS systems for efficient management of business processes and quality assurance. Her work is focused on digital solutions that improve organizational performance, strategic decision-making, and operational excellence.

In addition to her expertise in technology and business systems, she has more than 20 years of leadership experience in tourism, both in the private and public sectors. She also served as the Director of the Slovenian Tourist Board, where she played an important role in the strategic development and international promotion of Slovenia as a tourist destination.

Her entrepreneurial path also includes the development of high-quality designer apartments, reflecting her strong sense for quality, sustainability, and holistic user experience.

With her interdisciplinary knowledge, leadership experience, and in-depth understanding of the international and intercultural business environment, Barbara Gunčar is committed to building strong partnerships and fostering long-term, trustworthy cooperation between Europe and the Arab world.

Daniela Žagar

Her professional life is closely connected to entrepreneurship. She has extensive experience as the long-time director of the Kranj Regional Chamber of Craft and Small Business and through her work in a family business. She was one of the key initiators of the establishment of BSC – the Regional Development Agency and led the Local Development Coalition of the Municipality of Kranj for several years. She led or participated in real estate and land acquisitions and in the development of business zones to support entrepreneurs.

She founded the company Center for Business Services, which provides a wide range of services essential for business operations. Her work has consistently been focused on cross-border economic cooperation; for many years, she has been dedicated to internationalization, organizing numerous meetings and conferences between Slovenian and foreign companies, and coordinating business visits abroad.

In recent years, she has participated in cross-border projects as a lead partner or as a member of project teams. She currently collaborates with companies in various areas of cooperation, identifies business opportunities, and promotes new forms of collaboration.

She recognized an important business opportunity for Slovenian companies in cooperation with the Arab world and joined the group of co-founders of ASBC.