The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and Internal Trade and Telecommunications Rasim Ljajić, stated today, in Niš, that the total value of the exports of the automotive industry in Serbia in the first eight months of the current year reached a high of 1.23 billion euros, which equals 18% of the total Serbian exports.

“The automotive industry ranks first in Serbian exports and the amount of this year’s exports is three and a half times larger compared to the same period last year,” said Ljajić, at the opening of the fifth Automobile, Motorcycle and Accompanying Equipment Show in the hall “Čair”, Niš. He added that, in the same period, 16000 new cars were sold in Serbia, which is three and a half times less than in the period before the economic crisis in 2008, which indicates that our country shares the fate of other European countries where a decline of about 5.5% in car sales was noted this year. Ljajić pointed out that the automotive industry is one of the few branches where there was a growth in employment.

“Around 22000 people were employed in the automotive industry sector this year, which is 10% more compared to the same period last year,” said Ljajić. He noted that about 27 companies operate in the automotive industry sector in Serbia, and added that 1.7 billion euros were invested in the industry since the year 2000.

“The automotive industry along with information technology, agriculture and energy belong to the strategic sectors of our country which have great production and export potential in the upcoming period,” said Ljajic.

The Mayor of Niš, Zoran Perišić noted that the fact that around 150000 people visited the previous fairs proves that the city has the potential for organizing such events, that the city needs such events and that these events serve to promote the city of Niš. According to him, increasing the purchasing power of the population, and improving the overall economic situation in order to increase the sales in the automotive sector as well, are some of the state’s most important tasks.

The Automobile, Motorcycle and Accompanying Equipment Show will run to October 6, and the new model “fiat Living” will be presented to the public for the first time at the event in Niš. The organizer of the fair is the City Marketing Center Niš.