"Swisslion Takovo" to start production in Republic of Srpska - investment worth 5.2m EUR

Belgrade-based "Swisslion Takovo" is going to start production in Republic of Srpska. The company will invest over 5.2m EUR and employ 300 workers in the food industry in Trebinje.

The facilities are being refurbished and the new ones are being built in the location where recently stood Factory 2 and Factory 6 of the Tool Industry Trebinje, and "SL Takovo", the Trebinje food industry, will be situated in them.

"Swisslion" will invest over 2.5m EUR in the industry, company "Takovo" from Gornji Milanovac will provide equipment worth over 2.7m EUR and organize training for personnel, while "SL IAT" (Swisslion Tool Industry Trebinje) provides properties for the joint business.

According to the words of the Director General of "SL Takovo" in Trebinje, Rade Marić, construction of the facilities is in its late phase.

- Storage facilities for wholesale sector have already been finished, and they will be put in operation on November 1st. Major share of production units in the halls will be completed prior to December 1st. Our aim is to start trial production in December, while full-scope production should start already in January 2010 - Marić pointed out.

Marić said that 280 workers would be employed during the first year, 230 of whom in direct production.

- The priority in employment will be given to the laid-off workers of SL IAT, which was also the aim of the owner of the concern - employment of aforementioned workers - says Marić.

According to the business plan, production of 9,500 tons of various products is in the pipeline, and the projected profit for the first year exceeds 7m EUR.

- Several product portfolios will be included in the production, and the primary goal of the owner of the concern was to put in operation the production lines that would employ as many former workers of SL IAT as possible. The primary part of the product portfolio is production of euro-cream, which is also the concern's brand, as well as a brand of the Republic of Serbia. Production of flips, variety of biscuits, jams and marmalades is in the pipeline as well - Marić pointed out.