Leading German aircraft engine manufacturer MTU Aero Engine started the construction of its new repair facility at an industrial park in the Municipality of Stara Pazova, near Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport.
The investment project MTU Maintenance Serbia is €100,9 million worth, and it will create around 400 new jobs in the first phase. The project is highly important from the aspect of technology and the impact it can have on the further development of the aerospace industry in Serbia and the education of future professionals in this particular industry.
In addition to that, MTU has already signed a cooperation agreement in 2019 with the Ministry of education and started close collaboration with educational institutions on the training process for future workers.
At today’s ground-breaking ceremony the Project Manager and Managing Director of MTU Maintenance Serbia, Rainer Becker said he is happy to be present today at this important event – as Nova Pazova has become the new home of the MTU.
„At this moment we have 60 local employees, and we are satisfied to start with the implementation of the project have worked on for three years. We feel welcome here and have experience of very cooperative citizens of Serbia – Thank you“, said Becker.
Michael Schreyögg, Member of the Executive Board, Chief Program Officer MTU said that the start of the construction is a turning point when project when their vision becomes true.
“It took us only about 18 months from the first visit here to having finalized all the contracts, that’s a record”, he stressed and added Serbia was the final choice between several countries for many positive aspects the country has.
“About three years ago we’ve started Europe-wide research for a new location for MTU. We accessed several possibilities and locations and finally, we choose Serbia as a place to be. Firstly, Serbia is well located in terms of logistics. Secondly, MTU is very much welcomed and accepted by the local authorities. Thirdly, and for me, this is the most important, Serbia was really dedicated to getting us on board. And additionally, this message was convinced by the German politics and parliamentarians and we received very supportive signals from the Federal Government”, emphasized Mr. Schreyögg.
Besides representatives of MTU, the President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić, H.E. Ambassador of Germany to Serbia Thomas Schiebe, Minister of Economy Andjelka Atanasković, Head of the Vojvodina provincial government Igor Mirović and the Major of the Municipality of Stara Pazova have also taken part in the event.
President Vučić welcomed the investors and expressed gratitude for choosing Serbia, but also stressed how intensive the work of the entire Serbian team is behind this impressive project.
“In the process of negotiating with MTU we had a competitor in one of the EU states – and we won by daily efforts we have made. This is a technologically highly important project which will employ engineers and give an opportunity to highly skilled workers”, said Vučić. As he added, today German companies in Serbia employ more than 77.000 people.
MTU Aero Engines is Germany’s leading engine manufacturer and an established global player in the industry. It engages in the development, manufacture, marketing, and support of commercial and military aircraft engines in all thrust and power categories and industrial gas turbines. The German manufacturer employs approximately 10,000 people overall and with its various affiliates and subsidiaries has a presence in all significant regions and markets worldwide.
Photo: Tanjug/Zoran Zestic