On June 11, 2010, the vice-president of the Government and Minister of economy and regional development, Mr. Mladjan Dinkic, officially opened the "Kronospan SRB" stating that the Austrian company is going to be a column of future furniture industry in Serbia. At the opening of this factory in Lapovo, Mr. Dinkic emphasized that we are talking about the second biggest Greenfield investment in Serbia, estimating that the furniture will be even more competitive because high quality particleboards are going to be produced in this factory.
Taking into consideration that our country will be able to export duty-free to the Russian market starting from July 1, this factory will in time have all the biggest strategic significance, he emphasized.
Dinkic specified that 160 workers are employed in the factory, where it is planned to employ 300 people, while approximately another 2,000 are employed with the suppliers.
He pointed out that this investment will be a milestone for the poor municipality of Lapovo, having in mind that Lapovo also has an industrial zone immediately next to the Corridor 10.
The General Manager of "Kronospan SRB", Mr. Petr Nikl, emphasized that we are talking about the first phase of construction of production plants, and he added that the value of the investment amounts to app. 80 million Euros, where participation of domestic suppliers in construction and assembly is app. 40 percent.
Nikl pointed out that this plant makes one quarter of capacities that company is planning to build in the following ten years.
80 percent of domestic resources such as timber, energy, manpower and transport are being used in the production he stated and said that the factory, which is already in function, realizes 50 percent of income from export.
President of the Municipality of Lapovo, Mr. Dragan Zlatkovic, appraised that this company is a stimulus for Lapovo, which will also attract other investors from Austria and contribute to the increase of the number of employees.
Zlatkovic pointed out that the Austrian company has rented an estate of 55 hectares for the realization of its business plans.
"Kronospan SRB" has constructed a factory for production of particleboards, what represents the first phase of the investment in Serbia, and as second and third project phase, construction of flooring and MDF panel production plant is planned.
This company is the world leading manufacturer of particleboards, medium density fiberboards and laminate floorings, where there are currently 26 big production plants and representation in 24 countries.
