MRKAJIĆ: INVESTMENTS FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL COMPANY RECAPITALISATION

BIJELJINA, SEPTEMBER 23 /SRNA/ - Director of Orao defense-industry company Marko Mrkajić thanked the Government of Republika Srpska for its support in the recent recapitalization process and stressed that today's opening of a new facility, attended by Prime Minister Savo Minić, demonstrates that it was the right decision.

"That this was the right course of action, supported by all the employees, is demonstrated by the opening of the facility, which represents one of the first investments by our strategic partner in the company, allowing us to enter the civil aviation market as well," Mrkajić told reporters in Bijeljina. He added that the investment concerns helicopter engines. "We discussed with the Prime Minister of Republika Srpska the difficulties in finding qualified personnel in this field. We were promised that efforts would be made to enable Bijeljina to get a secondary aviation school, which would make it easier to find qualified staff," Mrkajić said. According to him, the value of Glotek's investment in the new Orao facility is BAM 3 million. Glotek Director Stefan Lukićević said that the first investment involves a new Rolls-Royce engine programme and that they are already in the final stages of negotiations with a major buyer who will be the first client for this engine. "The next investment we are planning is a Pratt & Whitney engine, which will be produced in the facility opened today, and we expect it to be implemented during the next year," Lukićević announced. He thanked Prime Minister Minić for visiting Orao, saying that his presence shows that he is interested in the company's success and that its employees have a future. "Republika Srpska and its Government have always shown understanding for and supported Orao, and we hope this will continue in the future," Lukićević said.