25.10.2013.
Marking 160 years of "Zastava Arms" factory
"Zastava Arms" factory, the oldest industrial company in Serbia marked today great jubilee – 160 years of its existence. The ceremony was attended by the representatives of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, the National Assembly, the Ministry of Defence, the Serbian Armed Forces, foreign military representatives, businessmen from the country and abroad, as well as companies of the defence industry, "YUGOIMPORT – SDPR", scientific and cultural institutions, and many guests .The Factory Day was marked by the solemn ceremony, which was held at two locations. First, at the Museum of the old foundry, General Manager of the factory Rade Gromovic addressed the guests, reviewing the history, operation and future projections of the factory and then Brigadier General Bojan Zrnic addressed the audience on behalf of the Ministry of Defence. On that occasion he emphasized that the Serbian Armed Forces and the defence industry are firmly bound since its foundation and that they rely on each other and help each other.
- There are few countries in the world, the size of Serbia that can boast with its own defence industry, and the Serbian Armed Forces as a user of its products, other than the development of its operational capabilities, provides an important reference in the positioning and marketing of these products in the global market – General Zrnic pointed out, expressing belief that the Government and the Ministry of Defence are sure that under conditions of prolonged economic crisis, the future of the company must be based on the increasing competitiveness in the global market.- Therefore, the Zastava Arms and defence industries of Serbia will be given full support in their future activities within the implementation of a complete financial consolidation and re-industrialization, in order to acquire new products and technologies and create profitable and sustainable companies – Zrnic concluded, adding that the state leadership, through foreign policy activities, will provide additional support to the defence industry in the global market.
Factory awards and the Cannon Founder's Medal were presented to collectives with whom the factory has been successfully cooperating for many years. The Gold Plaque was presented to the Ministry of Defence and the Silver Plaque to the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces and Odbrana Media Centre. On behalf of this institution, Director of the Media Centre Lieutenant Colonel Slavoljub Markovic received the Plaque.The second part of the solemn ceremony was held in the Serbian Prince's Theatre (Knjazevsko-srpski teatar), where its actors made performance "Lighthouse of the East and Cradle of the West" which presented significant figures who have marked the work of the factory from its foundation in 1853 to date.
