23.12.2009.

Minister presented with the Chamber of Commerce award

Minister of Defense Dragan Sutanovac received today a special award a commendation scroll of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce for 2009.

The award for special contribution and support to the development, promotion and increase of exports of the defense industry in Serbia was presented to Minister Sutanovac by Milos Bugarin, the president of this organization at the tenth session of the Chamber of Commerce’s Assembly.

In the explanation of the Committee for the award presented to Dragan Sutanovac reads that the Serbian defense minister at the times of global economic crisis invested great efforts in consolidating the Serbian economy. One of the main focuses of his foreign policy was the promotion of the potential of Serbian economy in the world and opening new markets. During the visits to countries interested in our defense industry, Minister was accompanied by the representatives of home industry and home companies in the filed of agro economy, machine industry, electro industry, food and defense industry as well.

As the Committee stated, Minister Sutanovac paid special attention to Serbia’s defense industry. He engaged himself to provide all the necessary conditions for complete restructuring and modernization of defense industry companies. In 2009, upon his initiative the financial support was provided for our defense industry companies which as a result enabled further consolidation, development of new products and technological modernization.

At the same time, during his diplomatic activities, he worked on promoting the potential of our defense industry abroad especially in Algiers, Iraq, and Egypt. Such activity of Minister Sutanovac was crucial for these Serbian companies to make 300 million USD worth of exports and to conclude contracts which are over 500 million USD in worth. This enabled it to become one of the axis of serbia’s economic growth, as the explanation reads.

On behalf of the awarded persons, Minister thanked the Chamber of Commerce. “This award today which bears my name is not my achievement solely. I wish to point out all the projects we worked on for the past few years with my coworkers in Yugoimport SDPR , but the defense industry factories in Cacak, Lucani, Kragujevac, Pancevo and Uzice deserve the greatest praise. One may wonder about the relation of defense and industry, yet no strong economy has weak industry, or vice versa, as Minister stressed, adding that defense was one of the main capacities of the society and economy.

2009 was marked by MoD successfully reviving our defense industry managing to restore its once lost repute. It is my personal wish to see the export numbers of these factories reach billion USD. I am also glad seeing that our economists have recognized our activities, since what is in our economy’s interest is in the best interest of our country and our people. The Ministry of Defense will continue to promote the defense industry of Serbia in the future period as well, as well as other segments of economy.

Another 24 associations were awarded for their special contribution to the Serbian industry and economy, while 22 most successful entrepreneurs and reporters were awarded 40th award of the Chamber.

The ceremony was attended by the awarded, the members of the Managing Board and the Chamber Business Council, MoD representatives and the reps of Serbian chambers of commerce as well as numerous entrepreneurs from our country.

Furthermore, eight companies were also given the award.