09.04.2012.

Minister visits Yumco factory

During today's visit to Vranje Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac, Assistant Material Resources Ilija Pilipovic and Serbian Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Ljubisa Dikovic with associates visited the Holding Company " Jumko cotton production factory" and talked with the management of the company.

In the plant used for the production of uniform, the Minister also met with the workers and became familiar with the conditions during production. While visiting the plant in which it uses uniform type M-10 the Minister had the opportunity to see the digital desert pattern.

According to Minister Sutanovac the factory had been in very poor condition until two years ago.

The workers did not receive salaries and had no work. After careful planning with "Yumco" management, we started with the production of new uniforms and new fabrics, the Ministry of Defence thus launching and renewing production at the plant, "said Minister of defense minister.

He noted that so far some 650 million RSD had been invested in uniforms and other products of "Jumko" for our army.

- We expect to conclude some 200 million RSD worth of contracts, and that practically by the end of this year, all members of the Serbian Army will have been wearing a new M-10uniform, which is the cooperation product between VTI and the factory "Jumko" - the minister said, adding that the that company is a typical example of how budget funds can be used to purchase local products.

He recalled that it was the Ministry of Defence which insisted from the start on domestic producers and that is the case, except cotton, which is imported, with all other products in Serbia.

- In this way we help the economy of Serbia and the Serbian budget our army relies on and thus the army itself. Let me remind you to do the same in Priboj, the "Zastava" and in many other plants that are important to our system - said Minister of Defence.

He noted that the Ministry of Defense annually allocated 1 billion dollars for the salaries of employees in the Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Army on the territory of Vranje.

Sutanovac said that over the past two years the ministry had employed around 1,000 young people who have received basic military training, and are capablei and that today, unlike some past time, working in the military, provide salaries and support their families.

- Thanks to the Army of Serbia and the Ministry of Defence, with "Jumko", a total of 3000 people found employment and could bring food to their table, and that is something that is very important to us and we will continue to behave this way in the future - said Sutanovac.

Deputy Mayor of Vranje, Igor Andonov, during the visit to “Jumko” expressed his pleasure with everything Mod has done in the last four years, not only in Vranje, but for the entire southern Serbia. He stressed the importance of employment capacities of the base "Jug", "Yumco", and with jobs the citizens of this part of Serbia were given new hope. Today the people have a job and regular pay.

He praised the efforts of the Serbian Army in the construction of the bridge in place Mazarac, which after two decades again linked the two municipalities.

- In addition, currently a building with 27 apartments intended for members of the Serbian Armed Forces in Vranje is being constructed, which will be exchanged for land as envisaged by the master plan. It is very important for the city of Vranje, because there will be expansion of industrial zones and residential and business center - said Andonov, concluding that "that the other ministries in tackling southern Serbia as one tenth of the Ministry of Defence, living here would be much better than now ".

The uniform-type M-10 is a completely new digital cut with a pattern that is used in the most advanced armies. It has maximum functionality and is tailored to the needs of the modern soldier.

It consists of 14 pieces of clothing - from underwear to a wind jacket. Practical testing of uniform type M-10 was carried out in the 41st Infantry Battalion, Fourth Brigade and 63 Parachute Battalion Special Brigade. After that, the uniform has undergone final testing in the Technical Testing Center, and in the course of making a decision to approve the zero series.

The company "Jumko" had until September 2011 delivered 8418 sets of uniform-type M-10 to the Ministry of Defense and the Army of Serbia, and by July another 8959 sets are planned, which were previously agreed on. Another batch of 5360 sets of uniforms is being agreed upon that will be produced by the Vranje based company.

The Yumco holding company was founded in 1960 by the decision of the People's Committee of Vranje. In 1964, some 1200 workers launched trial production and in the following year regular production started. Increased capacity and production lead to the creation of retail bonus. The company now operates successfully in the domestic and international market. Constantly increasing productivity and efficiency, the Holding Company "Jumko" is one of the few in our country that can boast of a longer tradition of business in five decades. It annually produce 1900 tons of yarn, 2.5 million meters of fabric in 150 cm, 140 tons of knitted fabric, 1.300 tons of thread and three million garments.

ANSWERS TO REPORTERS QUESTIONS
Regarding the allegations that the salaries of "Yumco" were low, the defense minister said that he had been informed of this during the talks with the management, but said it was crucial that the plant continues to operate.

I am sure that with good management and greater support from the Ministry of Economy, which unfortunately did not help this plant like other plants, we could achieve greater efficiency, and thus have greater inflow of funds for salaries- the minister said, adding that this would soon happen and that Yumco is a large factory which concentrates on a smaller space, which requires government assistance.

He said the plant will have a job in the future, not only thanks to the Ministry of Defense, and now exports abroad, as already reported by foreign armies who want to buy uniforms modeled on our own.