Gorenje expands capacity in Serbia - Agreement signed to build EUR 20 million factory in Valjevo

Deputy Prime Minister Verica Kalanovic announced Thursday that Gorenje would build a new refrigerator factory in Valjevo and hire 400 workers, while in Stara Pazova it would expand the capacity of the current water heater factory and create another 100 jobs, it was announced on the Serbian government's website.

Agreements on these investments were signed by Kalanovic, Gorenje representative Branko Apat, Valjevo Mayor Zoran Jakovljevic and Stara Pazova Municipal President Goran Jovic.

Kalanovic said that the Slovene company would invest €20 million in the new factory in Valjevo, which should be constructed over the next 16 months, adding that the factory would provide a perspective for SMEs, that is, secure subcontractors that would cooperate with Gorenje.

Once this factory is opened, Valjevo will become the center for refrigerating technology in this part of Europe, she stressed, reiterating that the struggle to combat the crisis and unemployment can be successful only with new investments and the creation of new jobs.

Apat said that the agreement was very important for both Gorenje and towns Valjevo and Stara Pazova, stressing that Serbia had thus become Gorenje’s second largest production location.

Gorenje has so far invested around €30 million in the Valjevo factory and hired 450 people, while in the washing machine factory in Zajecar it has invested €2.9 million and currently employs around 100 workers there.