07.09.2015.

Minister Gasic visits Holding Corporation "Krusik"

Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic and his associates visited the Holding Company "Krusik" in Valjevo, where he met with the management of the special purpose industry factory. The delegation headed by Minister of Gasic also visited the site in the factory premises where members of the "PMC Engineering" removed the 250-kilo bomb leftover from the NATO bombing yesterday, and another 500 kilos bomb is being extracted.

On this occasion, Minister Gasic pointed out that this was one of the most important arms factories in Serbia, and that the results from the past year and a half achieved by "Krusik" were important primarily in terms of exports of arms and military equipment.

- We’re expecting an investment of close to 20 million in 2015 and 2016, which will significantly increase the capacity of "Krusik" and the blacksmith centre "Yugoimport SDPR" - Minister Gasic stressed, adding that new machines will soon be installed in this facility, which have been ordered and will be delivered in the future.

Defence Minister also pointed out that the range of products "Krusik" in the previous year and significantly expanded in cooperation with forging center "Yugoimport SDPR", primarily in the missile program. According to Minister Gasic, "Krusik" and the Ministry of Defence have submitted a request to the Government to recruit new 340 workers, and as he pointed out, a positive response is expected because these people are more than necessary due to the increased workload.

- The most important thing is that the salaries of some 35,000 have come to an average of 48,000 dinars, the number of workers is steadily increasing, and the business is stable. The rest is to implement the conclusion of the Government from 2013 on the conversion of old claims of "Krusik" to the Revenue Administration and Local Self-Government, which is under way – Minister Gasic stressed, adding that the most important thing is that there is stable work and a growth trend in all the factories of the defence industry of Serbia.

Minister Gasic stressed that the Ministry of Defence had contributed the most to restart the work of "Krusik Batteries", and that the first contract was to be signed the next day, which is very important because, for more than a decade, there had not been a stable domestic supplier of batteries for the military as their biggest consumer in all services.

Discussing the demands of trade union representatives of the defence industry for the employees involved in the industry are exempt from salary cuts, Minister Gasic said that he agreed with certain requirements, and that some were driven by individual interests, because all citizens alike must bear the burden of economic reforms.

Director of the Holding Corporation "Krusik" Mladen Petkovic stressed that the reconstruction of the factory that was damaged in the bombing in 1999 had been initiated, and that works on the construction of entirely new buildings and production facilities were under way.

- At the site of the former tool shop, there will be a new facility built that will be used for production in the field of missile programs. This will rank Serbia among the largest manufacturers of missile programme in this part of Europe - Petkovic said, adding that a new cap factory, which will completely replace the imports from local countries in the procurement of caps. He also stressed that "Krusik" had contracted operations in the amount of 140 million dollars.

Discussing the unexploded ordnance found in the premises of the factory "Krusik", Director of "PMC Engineering", daughter company of "Yugoimport SDPR" Nikola Vukanic stressed that all legal measures had been taken, and a bomb of 250 kilograms had been extracted yesterday and neutralized. Experts of the company, he added, are working on removing the other bomb, twice as large.

Responding to questions about the interest in voluntary military service, Minister Gasic pointed out that it was increasing each year. He also said that preparations were being made for the return of the army to the barracks in Pirot and Surdulica, and bearing in mind that the Armed Forces lacks 800 non-commissioned officers, new curricula had been introduced.