29.05.2018.
Minister Vulin: Serbian defence industry will remain under state control
Answering a journalist's question on the privatization of Serbia's defence industry, Serbian Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin said during today’s visit to the Sloboda Čačak company clarified that the new law prevents privatisation but allows recapitalisation.
- We have adopted a law which guarantees that the state will always own 51 percent. So, we adopted a law which prevents privatization but allows recapitalisation. Before this law was introduced, the Sloboda Čačak plant had the same legal standing as any other factory. There was no legal difference between Sloboda and a bakery you wish to privatise.. Now there is. Now we recognize the Serbian defence industry, it is recapitalised under special rules and its privatization is not possible because that would mean that someone could buy 51 percent. Under this law, the state of Serbia has to own 51 percent. I would be very happy if an investor came bringing fresh money, new technologies, new markets and increasing capacities, but Serbia will always have the control of the ownership of Sloboda – 51 percent. This applies to all factories that are part of the Serbian defence industry, said Minister Vulin adding that workers are those who are to look forward to this law in the first place because there will be more work.