Prvi Partizan from Užice plans new factory

(Photo: prvipartizan.com)

Prvi partizan from Uzice, one of the most successful local companies in the defence industry that exports almost all of its production, has already prepared the project for a new factory and is expecting 8m euros in support from the state.

Minister of Defence Bratislav Gašić announced that the government will invest 70m euros in companies working in this sector, on condition that they offer projects that aim to increase production volumes, jobs, exports...

Dobrosav Andrić, general manager of Prvi Partizan, remarked that his factory has already launched a large investment cycle of almost 30m euros to expand capacity, modernise production lines, procure modern equipment and improve working conditions. The factory itself has provided most of the funds and 18m euros have been spent so far in the first phase of expansion and modernisation. A 3,500 m2 new hall was first opened for bullet production, and not long ago a production line for cartridges covering 10,000 m2.

“The second phase for which we will compete for government funds covers construction of a factory for completing the bullets and cartridges”, Andrić told Danas. “This will be located outside Užice, probably on the river Trešnjica, and should be finished in 2016, which will allow production to move from the present underground building and significantly improve working conditions for the staff.”

According to his statement, this investment will enable the factory to increase export from the current USD 75m to USD 120m, and profits from USD 7m to USD 10-12m.

“In the end the whole project needs about 12m euros. We are competing for 8m of government funds in the form of soft loans from the Development Fund. The remaining 4m will be provided from our own budget”, explained Andrić, adding that apart from building the factory the funds will be used for procuring modern technology and equipment.

Out of 1,500 employees in the factory, 500 are permanent staff, 500 are on fixed-term contracts and the same number again on intermittent and temporary jobs. But the intention is that, of the existing 1,000 contract staff, almost half will become permanent, as the Minister of Defence announced on a recent visit to Prvi Partizan.

“That's the idea that the Serbian government should approve”, said Andrić to Danas today.

Translation provided by: www.halifax-translation.com