06.04.2016.

Minister Sertic and State Secretary Neric visit Sloboda Cacak

Minister of Economy Zeljko Sertic and State Secretary in the Ministry of Defence Nenad Neric and his associates have visited today the company "Sloboda" AD in Cacak.

On this occasion, Minister Sertic officially opened the plant for production, heat treatment and surface protection of artillery cartridge cases.

Speaking about this factory of the defence industry, Minister Sertic said that the opening of the new hall marked the renewal of the new production processes that will significantly enable them to implement agreements that have already been made in the past, but also to create the new ones.

- What is specific for this facility is that, very often, when we open factories in Serbia, most of the equipment is imported. I am glad, as the Minister of Economy in the Republic of Serbia to be present and to have the honour to start the production in the part which is almost 70 per cent the result of not only the domestic industry, but the domestic intelligence as well – Minister Sertic said, adding that they will continue providing assistance not only to companies of the defence industry, but to all companies in the country as well.

According to him, it was agreed at today's meeting to hold another meeting in the forthcoming period at the Ministry of Economy to include the representatives of the Ministry of Defence and the defence industry to address through joint efforts certain problems that burden these factories, all for the sake of better production and export performance in the future.

- As I was informed, the demands for products of the "Sloboda" factory on the world market are large, and virtually the only limitation is the production facilities and funding of the new ones, or procurement of assets that are required in order to realise the business – Minister Sertic concluded.

The director of Cacak-based "Sloboda", Zoran Stefanovic, said that the plant, which has been put into operation today is of great importance when it comes to the realization of the existing contracts, and at the same time it will give a chance for the contracting of new jobs.

- Around EUR 4 million has been invested in this facility – to equipment and construction works, achieving such a technological level that we have protected at the same time our workers in terms of risks and hazards and enlarged the capabilities when it comes to the development of medium-calibre cartridge cases by 70 percent, and for the artillery ones by 20 percent – Stefanovic emphasized.

He added that the plant for the production of cartridge cases was divided into four parts, and that the newly opened facilities will significantly contribute to saving time and resources during the cartridge case production process.