31.03.2022.
Minister Stefanović visits “Prvi Partizan“ ammunition factory in Užice
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Nebojša Stefanović, PhD, has visited the "Prvi Partizan" ammunition factory in Užice today. He said he was glad that this defence industry company was considering investments. According to him, this is the only guarantee that we will be able to cope with all future challenges.
- I am glad to see that all the ideas that the defence industry directors put forward at the meeting with President Vučić, are being gradually put into action, as we can see here in "Prvi Partizan". Today, we’ve had the opportunity to see the progress of the construction of the plant, which we hope will be opened this year, so that we can move part of the production there - said Minister Stefanović.As the Minister said, one of the topics at today's meeting with the factory management, where the General Manager Dobrosav Andrić presented the current activities and plans for the next period, was also investments, which would enable the factory to add a new ammunition production line, manufacturing the most sought-after ammunition on the market today, which would lead to a greater success on the market, and thus higher employment and higher salaries.
- I am glad to see that all aspects are being considered here, average salaries here are quite high compared to the Serbian average thanks to the factory’s successful manufacturing that can make gains and bring Serbia four or five million euros in profits annually - said Minister Stefanović.Representatives of the trade union also attended today's meeting with the Minister of Defence and expressed their expectations about what would be done in the next period.
- We have to think about investments, because they are the only guarantee that we will be able to cope with all the future challenges. I have also talked to director Andrić about the difficulties he is facing and what he considers an obstacle to implementing an even more ambitious plan. In the coming period, I want to talk to the managements of other defence industry factories, that this factory, which produces the final product, depends on, to see what the Ministry can do, focusing as much as possible on domestic defence industry in the coming months - said Minister Stefanović.
Minister Stefanović expressed his gratitude to the workers of "Prvi Partizan" who work tirelessly to meet the needs of the Serbian Armed Forces.- I am also glad to see that the newly established plants also produce 12.7 mm ammunition, which is the most sought-after ammunition on the world market, and that they quickly started that production here. Today, we produce our bullets in several places in Serbia, and very successfully, and we hope to start producing the 14.5 mm calibre. I am happy that these people do not live in the past, but are thinking about starting to produce the ammunition that will be sought-after five or ten years from now - said Minister Stefanović.
Head of the Defence Minister’s Office, Colonel Stevan Kotarlić, and Colonel Zoran Patić from the Defence Technologies Department also visited the factory.
"Today, I have visited one of our defence industry’s most successful factories. The staff of Užice’s "Prvi Partizan" Factory are an example of how better salaries, new plants and success on the market can be achieved. Fighting with all your heart always leads to success. I am particularly pleased with the construction of a new, modern and safe factory complex. I am grateful to them for sometimes working in three shifts and without a break, because they know how important it is for our Armed Forces and Serbia that such production never stops," the Minister wrote on his Instagram profile (@nebojsastefanovic) after the tour of the factory.