“Dear fellow citizens, today is a great day for the citizens of Nis.

Although the Government of the Republic of Serbia, from July 2016 until today, managed to attract two large investors to Nis, which would hire more than 3,500 workers with a high proportion of highly educated personnel, and allow me to remind you that these were: Integrated Micro-Electronics (IMI), from the Philippines, which would invest over 20 million euros and employ at least 1250 workers and German Leoni, which, in new factory in Nis would invest 20 million euros and employ at least 2,200 workers, the news announced today by Serbian PM Aleksandar Vucic in an open letter to citizens of Nis, that the Austrian Zumtobel would invest in Nis over 30 million euros in the construction of a manufacturing plant with the production starting in 2018 is a  historic moment for our city.

Thus the promise given by Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic to the citizens of Nis during the seven-day stay of the Government in Nis is fulfilles, by bringing several world-renowned companies to Nis and by returning Nis to the place it belonged to, which is the center and generator of the future development of the southeast of Serbia. The City of Nis and the citizens of Nis are thanking him for this.

The Austrian company Zumtobel Group is one of the leading in the field of innovative solutions for the lighting and production of accompanying components. With three internationally recognized brands Thorn, Tridonic and Zumtobel, and two lesser known acdc and Reiss brands, the group offers a wide range of products and services to its customers around the world. The group has 14 production facilities on four continents and sales facilities in about 90 countries, employing over 7,000 workers. Zumtobel Group is constantly expanding by taking other brands, and in 2006 the group went out on the stock market. It is known worldwide as “Mercedes in the world of the latest lighting technology”. At the beginning of 2016, the company Zumtobel donated to the City of Belgrade and the City of Nis modern public lighting with smart management.

Zumtobel Group plans to build a factory of approximately 40,000 m² and to employ a significant number of Nis citizens with a large share of highly educated personnel. For the realization of the planned project, about 10 ha of land is needed, which the Republic of Serbia and the City of Nis will provide in one of the Industrial zones in Nis. The decision-making process lasted over a year. During the six visits of Zumtobel Group to the City of Nis, we introduced to them the comparative advantages of the Republic of Serbia and especially of our city. A special accent in the negotiations was on the industrial tradition, potentials and plans for the development of the Science and Technology Park and the advanced technology industry in Nis, i.e., the advantages that the University of Nis is generating above all.

As the prime minister pointed out, “our engineers, our workers and our young innovators are becoming members of this big family” and with the arrival of these factories they have more reasons to plan their families and their careers in our city.

In the end, once again I would like to thank Aleksandar Vucic for his enormous personal effort to bring this significant investor to our city and to enable the opening of new jobs and new employment, which are a key prerequisite for higher standards and better lives of citizens.”,  as Mayor Bulatovic said at the press conference held at Nis City Hall in this occasion.

Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic sent a letter today to the citizens of Nis on the occasion of the arrival of one of the best manufacturers of innovative lighting systems, the Austrian company Zumtobel to Serbia.

The official website of the Serbian government brings the content of the Prime Minister’s letter in full:

“Respected citizens of Nis, Dear citizens of Serbia,

As Prime Minister of Serbia, today I am particularly happy, especially because of what I promised during my seven-day visit to Nis, and that is that one of the best manufacturers of innovative lighting systems, the Austrian company Zumtobel will definitely come to Serbia. This was confirmed on 27 January by the Supervisory Board of that company and the world’s media, such as “Reuters” and “Bloomberg” broadcast this piece of news.

We have worked long and hard that this company come and today I have to be happy because this company, which all also called “Mercedes of the latest technologies in the world of lighting”, decided to build its new big factory in Nis and invest €30 million in it. I’d like you to understand how difficult it is to bring one of such players not only to invest and open up production, but also to be the engine of development, the transmitter of the latest technology and innovation and a serious partner to universities.

When I first had the opportunity to meet Director of the company Ulrich Schumacher exactly a year and four months ago, we did not even dream about such an outcome. But the time has shown that we built step by step the confidence of one of the leading innovative companies and convinced them that Serbia is the right place for them.

It started with the opening of Zumtobel’s design and project centre, which was transferred from Poland to Serbia, and the employment of young engineers and designers who worked here in Belgrade on the projects of Zumtobel across Europe.We are grateful to these young people because with their talent, dedication and creativity they were sending a clear message that Serbia is the right place. Immediately thereafter, as it is the case with serious Austrians, they decided to make sure that tomorrow they will have good suppliers and partners among our companies.

Together we visited more than one hundred companies and selected those that meet their high standards. During this process, they donated “smart” street lighting in two streets in Nis and Belgrade each. All this was part of the road of creating trust in Serbia.
Zumtobel has factories in Germany, Austria, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Australia, the United States and China. Today our engineers, our workers, our young innovators are becoming members of this big family.

My best regards to the citizens of Nis,

Yours faithfully, Aleksandar Vucic”, reads the letter of the Prime Minister.