23.03.2024.

75th anniversary of “Prva Petoletka” celebrated

State Secretary in the Ministry of Defence Nemanja Starović attended a ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the company "Prva Petoletka Trstenik - Namenska" in Trstenik today.

On that occasion, a contract was signed for the procurement of Miloš v2, a remotely controlled unmanned ground platform. On behalf of the Ministry of Defence, the contract was signed by Colonel Dragan Panić, a representative of the Procurement and Sales Department, Material Resources Sector, and on behalf of “Prva Petoletka”, by the company’s general manager Anđelka Atanasković.

At the beginning of his address, State Secretary Starović conveyed the greetings and congratulations from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Miloš Vučević to the management and employees of "Prva Petoletka" on this important anniversary, and looked back on the company’s rich history, of which the company employees, the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Government are proud.

- We proudly remember the time when "Prva Petoletka", which employed 11,000 people, was an industrial giant not only in the territory of former Yugoslavia, but in the whole of Europe and even the world. A lot was achieved during that period. But what will remain a source of pride for future generations is the important role of your company in managing the Gazivode Hydrosystem - dam and hydropower plant, bearing in mind its present importance, as well as the company’s crucial role in erecting the dome of the Church of St. Sava in Vračar. This remains for the future generations - said State Secretary Starović.

During the NATO aggression in 1999, he said, the company was in a very difficult situation and its very survival was called into question.

- You have managed to overcome those difficulties, to preserve knowledge and experience, which has turned out to be the most important, to slowly recover over the last ten years and to become what you are today, the pillar of industry, not only in Trstenik, but also in the whole of Rasina District and our country. The Republic of Serbia is proud of its defence industry and supports it and will continue to do so in the future. I think that around 12 million euros from the budget of the Republic of Serbia invested over the past ten years is not a small amount and that it has helped the business to become stable. I would ask you to try to maintain those positive results, which are of crucial importance for the entire Serbian defence industry chain, for the Serbian Armed Forces and for our country as a whole - said State Secretary Starović, wishing the employees much successes in the years to come.

According to the director of "Prva Petoletka", Anđelka Atanasković, in the last 10 to 12 years, the company has been restored to its former glory.

- I expect young people to continue on this path, so that one day they can boast about their contribution to this city and this factory and I hope that they will support their families, educate their children and continue the tradition, just like we have - said Atanasković.

She is glad that wages in "Prva Petoletka" are equal to the national average and that the company has no debts.

- We have worked hard to improve the living and working conditions for the factory workers and we will continue to do so. I would like to thank the Ministry of Defence and the state for recognizing this, for investing in our company and providing us with assistance - said Atanasković, adding that Serbian factories are starting to follow global trends again.

As a token of gratitude for their contribution to the successful revitalization of the production facilities of "Prva Petoletka", plaques were awarded to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Miloš Vučević, which was accepted by State Secretary Starović, and Assistant Minister of Defence for Material Resources Nenad Miloradović, PhD.

During the visit, some of the production facilities of "Prva Petoletka" were presented to State Secretary Starović.

The ceremony was attended by State Secretary in the Ministry of Defence Mile Jelić, Head of the Defence Technologies Department Brig. Gen. Slavko Rakić, representatives of the Ministry of the Interior and the local self-government.