Industry of panel materials "Kronospan" to have factory built in Lapovo -investment worth 300m USD

Industry of panel materials "Kronospan", specialized for production of mediapan, plywood and laminate, is having a factory built in Lapovo, in which it will invest 300m USD. The space rented in the industrial zone occupies 5o ha – said the Mayor of Municipality of Lapovo, Dragan Zlatković, for Ekapija.

The first man of Lapovo explained that company "Kronospan", which operates in 27 countries of the world, had decided for greenfield investment in Lapovo for both geographic position of that town in central Serbia and the vicinity of the highway, Corridor 10 and the railways.

- This is one of the largest direct foreign investments on the territory of central Serbia and, as such, it demands infrastructural capacities that surpass the capabilities of our municipality. Therefore, company "Kronspan" will have talks in Belgrade with the representatives of the Government and companies that will take part in realization of this project - says our collocutor.

At the meeting, which will be held today (May 8, 2007), there will be the representative4s of "Kronospan" "Srbijašume", Electric Power Company of Serbia, "Srbijagas" and CIP Institute.

- According to the company's plans, 400 people will be employed in the first phase, while another 2,400 people will get jobs three years later, in the final phase – says Zlatković and adds that the investors expect profit in amount of 300m EUR on annual basis.

According to his words, half of production of panel materials will be offered on the domestic market, with Kragujevac-based company "Forma ideale" as the largest buyer, whereas the rest will be prepared for export.

Building permit is expected at the beginning of October 2007 when the construction should commence.