German "Leoni" to start production of cables for automotive industry in Prokuplje on December 2nd - jobs for 200 workers

Following the completion of the training by workers and better organization of the production, the factory of cable kits for automotive industry of German company "Leoni" in Prokuplje will be ceremoniously put in operation on Wednesday, December 2nd. According to the municipal information service, it is expected that the ceremony will be attended by the President of the Republic of Serbia, Boris Tadić, who will also open the new factory.

About 200 people have already got jobs in this factory, and the company's plan is to triple the number of employees in the factory within the next three years.

Two groups of 100 workers each, majority of whom are women, have completed the training in "Leoni's" factory in Slovakia through the National Employment Agency. In that way, the factory has recently started production. The company plans to triple the production prior to spring 2010, as well as to employ all 2,000 workers by the end of year 2011. It will be the biggest new factory in the south of Serbia.

– When we know that new factory "Leoni" is the biggest investment in Serbia in 2009, we are proud of the fact that it has been opened in Prokuplje – Milan Arsović, the Mayor of Prokuplje, told "Politika". – This is even more important if we know that 2,000 people will get jobs. With this factory and realization of other projects in 2010, Prokuplje will become one of the most important economic centers in the south of Serbia. The economy of Toplica will get back the reputation it enjoyed during the 1970's and 1980's, and it will join the global economic trends of the 21st century.