Decision on new Gorenje factories in Serbia by end of 2010 - Italian companies also interested in light industry in our country

(Mladjan Dinkic)

- We will know by the end of 2010 when Gorenje will start the construction of a new factory in Valjevo and when it is going to open the factory in Zajecar. We expect an agreement on expansion of investments of this Slovenian company in Serbia to be reached very soon – Serbian Minister of Economy and Regional Development Mladjan Dinkic stated for eKapija.

According to earlier announcements, construction of a new Gorenje factory in Valjevo should commence in spring 2011. The Slovenian company, which already has one such plant in the city on the Kolubara, rented a lot two years ago for the period of 99 years, on which a factory with 500 workers should be put in operation prior to 2012.

Also, procurement of deserted units of Zajecar-based Porcelan has also been announced. Gorenje would be producing plastic and metal components for the rest of its factories in two halls, while the third hall would host a factory of household appliances.

- Gorenje has a boiler factory in Stara Pazova and it currently builds an additional unit is close there, which should result in twice as big production and export in 2011 – said Dinkic.

Italian textile companies in Serbia

- We are negotiating with several foreign companies interested in investing in light industry in Serbia. These are an Italian giant of the textile industry and an Italian furniture manufacturer. Also, foreign companies are interested in investing in leather and footwear production – Dinkic told eKapija.

Dinkic was unable to reveal the names of these companies "until it is for certain that the investment plans will be fulfilled", but he said that the companies with which they had been negotiating were interested in using the existing capacities, as well as in building new factories in south Serbia.

Mladjan Dinkic was a guest at the last night's meeting of the Slovenian Business Club.