30.04.2012.

Minister visits Kragujevac

Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac visited today in Kragujevac, the company "Zastava kamioni" and "Zastava Arms".

The visit was an opportunity to present a new vehicle from a selection of "Zastava Trucks", a new off-road vehicle NTVPK extended cab, and also to hold a meeting with the factory management.

On that occasion, Sutanovac visited the production facilities and showroom of weapons "Zastava Arms", which ones are produced from a new development program of the factory.

Speaking about the importance of plants in that city for the defense system, the minister expressed confidence that the new SUV, which is produced by the experts of the factory and the Military Technical Institute, will soon be applied in units of the Army of Serbia, continuing the trend of equipping the army with domestic products.

- This plant has almost doubled its exports compared to 2007, with significantly fewer employees, which indicates that there are capacities for Serbia to export arms- the minister said, adding that the wages of workers increased by about 50 percent, a sign that the plant is back on track.

The Army of Serbia expects the company to continue developing new weapons, for which there are needs both in domestic and foreign markets, said Minister of Defence.

- More than 50 percent of arms exports produced in the "Zastava Arms" are being exported to the United States, and such is the plan for "Prvi Partisan" in Uzice - the minister said, adding that it illustrates the importance of integration and direction for the development our defense industry.

The director of "Zastava Arms" Rade Gromovic pointed out that the factory work has made for this year 156 million RSD worth of contract with the Serbian Army for M21 rifles modeled after "Soldier of the 21st century", while another topic of discussion today were realized exports worth some $ 65 million.

The goal for this year is for sales of goods and services to reach $ 40 million, given the contracted works for the U.S. civilian markets- said director Gromovic, adding that the employment of capacity is stable and had reached its maximum, and close to the efficiency of the eighties.

The goal for this year is for sales of goods and services to reach $ 40 million, given the contracted works for the U.S. civilian markets- said director Gromovic, adding that the employment of capacity is stable and had reached its maximum, and close to the efficiency of the eighties.

As an example of good cooperation diplomacy, military and defense industry is contracting work for "Hummer" SUVs which, this time in the form of grants, will soon arrive in the Serbian Army, and the future cooperation with this American factory is the merit of our country's ambassador to the United States Vladimir Petrovic.

According to him after the visit of our delegation to "Hummer" factory in Indiana a few weeks ago, in conversation with the factory management both sides discussed partnership with a European country which would be employed in assembling and repairing vehicles. As stated, Kragujevac factory "Zastava vozila," came up as a factory of choice during the talks, so we can expect a visit of the official U.S. delegation which will discuss this issue.

During his visit, Sutanovac visited the Army House in that city, and the garrison ambulance.