01.02.2018.

Minister Vulin: A New Plant for the New Uniforms

Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin attended today the opening of a new plant in company “Jumko” from Vranje located in Bujanovac.

Then, Minister Vulin pointed out that in 2012 no one had believed in “Jumko” except for Aleksandar Vučić.

- Only Aleksandar Vučić did believe that the “Jumko” would succeed, that it would return, that it would employ, that it would work again. As you can see, he was right. Owing to his personal effort, owing to the participation of the entire Government, but the most importantly, owing to the management and workers, the “Jumko” is again what it deserves to be – said the minister of defence adding that the “Jumko” was again an engine of development in the south of Serbia “where it is the most difficult, where the greatest work is needed and working posts” by which the “Jumko” demonstrated how successful it was and how successful it was yet to become.

- Upon decision of the Supreme Commander Aleksandar Vučić, we have initiated a project of equipping our armed forces and each of our soldiers, and every our member has to have at least two sets of uniforms. The task was given to “Jumko” and “Jumko” performs that tasks very well – Minister Vulin said stressing that during the month 8000 sets of uniforms had already been given to the members of the Serbian Armed Forces.

The minister stated that each soldier would have at least two sets of uniforms which was something that had not happened since the time of the Yugoslav People’s Army.

- For a very long time, our soldier could not boast of being so well equipped, of being so well prepared for the execution of his tasks. Now, he truly can, Likewise, we have together with the management of the “Jumko”, with the members of the Serbian Armed Forces and General Staff passed adequate plans for new uniforms, primarily for the members of our special units, military police, reconnaissance units and all those with special tasks, and special purpose, who consequently need to have a special uniform – Minister Vulin said noting that the goal was, as it was the case in the armed forces of the world, to tailor the uniforms to their needs and tasks.

The first man of the Ministry of Defence pointed out that the “Jumko” was capable of fulfilling it in the best possible way.

- Also, the Ministry of Defence and the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces will soon open a great international competition for a project design for the production of a new service uniform. We believe that it is time, after decades and decades, we came out with new ideas, a new fit – Minister Vulin said adding that the Serbian Armed Forces was being intensively equipped, strengthened and making progress.

- Every investment in the Serbian Armed Forces is an investment in local community and economy. The technology mastered by the “Jumko” will be able to be utilised for other purposes as well. The opened jobs have been opened owing to the great procurements done by the Ministry of Defence. We all benefit from it, but mostly the citizens of Serbia and the state of Serbia, because without strong and satisfied armed forces there cannot be strong, satisfied and stable Serbia – Minister Vulin said.

According to the Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, General Ljubiša Diković, opening of a new plant of the “Jumko” in Bujanovac is multiply significant.

- For the armed forces, it is important that we have managed to resolve a strategic issue, which is a reliable supplying of the members of the armed forces and other security forces of the Republic of Serbia with the uniforms. This is a prof that national companies as well can develop such capacities, that they are capable of meeting otherwise strict criteria and conditions that are to be met in order to describe a military uniform as good quality one – General Diković said praising all the men in the Ministry of Defence who worked on the project, and the company “Jumko” for the efforts made to finalise such a process in a very short time.

He underlined that the wish of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces was to have “Jumko” company sewing the service uniform as well and to have “Jumko” entirely responsible for dressing the armed forces.

State Secretary in the Ministry of Economy Dragan Stevanović thanked Minister Vulin, the Ministry of Defence and Chief of General Staff for having given the support to the Ministry of Economy and Government of the Republic of Serbia in resolving the status of 11 strategic companies “Jumko” being one of them.

- Four years ago, there were few of those who believed that today, in 2018, we will open another plan in “Jumko” here in Bujanovac no less – State Secretary Stevanović said reminding that six months before a ballistics plant had been opened in that factory which was to be additionally expanded in the following days whereat the Ministry of Economy had provided the resources in order to additionally expand the technology.

He reminded that the development of UPPR for “Jumko” was in progress, stressing that that day’s opening of Bujanovac plant would have a positive effect, so that the outcome would be a long-term cooperation of “Jumko” with the armed forces and police.

- I am very proud of the mixed structure of the employees, just like the population structure is mixed in Bujanovac. May this be a good example of what the factories should be like in the future that are to be opened in these parts and what they should be governed by – he said emphasising that 64 jobs had not been opened in Bujanovac in decade and a half.

Director-General of “Jumko” Branislav Trajković underlined that six months after opening the ballistics plant in Vranje, a new textile plant was opened on that day in Bujanovac which would employ 64 workers.

- By securing business with the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Interior and with the great support of the Ministry of Economy and Government of the Republic of Serbia with the President as its head, in 2017 and 2018 “Jumko” filled almost entire capacities, so that we are already thinking about the projects for 2019 and 2020 – Trajković said emphasising that he was proud that all the employees were from the territory of Bujanovac.

The minister of defence talked with the workers who stressed that they were satisfied with the working conditions and opportunity to work and earn in the place they live. On that occasion the minister was personally assured of the high quality of the uniforms sewn in Bujanovac and that the uniform met the standards of defence system.

Today’s opening of the new plant in “Jumko” in Bujanovac was attended by State Secretary in the Ministry of Defence Bojan Jocić, Mayor of Vranje Slobodan Milenković and representatives of the Ministry of Defence and local government.

The new plant in “Jumko” is located in Karađorđe Petrović Street nn, in the building of former “Jugoprometa” which was adapted according to its needs by the textile giant from Vranje. The plant in Bujanovac will employ 64 workers, and the plan is to shortly train as much in order to create conditions for the work in two shifts.

“Jumko” Ltd Vranje is a leading textile company in Serbia which deals with the production of yarns, textile, threads and ready-made clothes. It produces garments and equipment for the needs of the Serbian Armed Forces, and uniforms and working clothes for workers in state institutions, public and economic companies and health care institutions.