Leoni starts building factory in Doljevac - Investment valued at EUR 21 million

- Leoni, a large German company, is about to commence the construction of its second factory in Serbia in Doljevac, where 1,500 people will get a job. It is now important that your children start working at the new factory as soon as possible because governments come and go, but factories are here to stay. For me, the most important thing is that I've achieved my goal, which is to secure people jobs regardless of the fact that I am not going to be a minister for much longer - Finance and Economy Minister Mladjan Dinkic was cited in the ministry's release as saying on August 23rd in Doljevac, where he attended a ceremony marking the commencement of construction works on Leoni's new factory.

He noted that 2,000 people in Doljevac were unemployed, adding that securing people jobs was the most important task.

- The new factory in Doljevac will be put in operation as early as next spring, and first 400 workers are already about to start their training. All 1,500 people will have a job by the end of the next year. Why is that important? So your children could stay in Doljevac, find a job, and have a stable income - said Minister Dinkic.

Minister Dinkic stressed that the completion of the second factory would lead to an increase in the value of Leoni's exports, adding that the automotive industry would get another factory it could rely on.

The ceremony was also attended by Serbian Parliament Speaker Nebojsa Stefanovic, Doljevac Mayor Goran Ljubic, and Leoni Wiring Systems Southeast CEO Joerg Paechnatz.

Of all the companies operating in Serbia, Leoni ranks 15th in the value of exports. This company exported EUR 50 million worth of car cables from the factory in Prokuplje in the first seven months of this year.

Leoni employs 1,750 workers in Prokuplje and is going to hire another 1,500 people in Doljevac. This investment is valued at EUR 21 million. The factory, which will cover 25,000 square meters on an area of 8.7 hectares, will be producing cables for brands Land Rover and Jaguar.

The municipality of Doljevac provided a land lot for this project in the vicinity of the village of Malosiste for free, whereas SIEPA will grant an incentive of EUR 7,000 per each newly created job.