Simpo suggested strategic partnership with Kopaonik

- Vranje-based Simpo suggested that the strategic partnership should be made with Kopaonik Lumber Company with the aim of restarting production in that company - the Ministry of Economy announced on January 22nd.

According to the announcement, after the meeting, the representatives of the Ministry of Economy and company Simpo spoke to Kopaonik's workers who had been on strike for 12 days and invited them to suspend the strike and unblock the Niš-Priština road.

CEO of Simpo, Slađan Dišić, announced that the state of equipment would be determined within the next 10 days, as well as that the list of spare parts and everything else that needs to be procured for the commencement of production would be made.

- Then the business plan will be made and it will anticipate commencement of production in sawmill and lessonit unit in the first phase, while the second phase will include complete reconstruction of the whole unit - said Dišić.

Dišić estimated that Kopaonik can be competitive in both domestic and foreign market since the number of lessonit manufacturers in Europe was in decline.

Dišić confirmed that he would speak to the representatives of the Ministry of Economy about the future status of Kopaonik and cooperation with Simpo prior to commencement of production.

The Assistant Minister of Economy, Mišela Nikolić, said that "significant funds will be needed for all that, and anyone who wants to invest in Kopaonik is welcome".

She pointed out that the strategic partnership between Simpo and Kopaonik would provide both market and better technology.