INTERVIEW
We've Responded Successfully To The Challenge TIAN YE Director, Minth Automotive
Minth Automotive’s first serial production and delivery to customers from Loznica will start from the beginning of 2021. It comes as a result of MEA's decision to choose Serbia as a valuable investment destination
M
inth Automotive Europe d.o.o. (MAE) is a 100%-owned subsidiary of the Minth Group, which was established in Loznica in 2018. The implementation of the project started in April 2019, and by the 2nd half of 2020 production facilities of more than 60,000m2 have been already built. For the time being, an Alu-extrusion line and one mechanical production line have been installed and optimised successfully. “Even though the development of the global automotive industry has been showing a stagnant situation since 2018, Minth still achieved explosive growth in expanding its business worldwide, which also gives MAE new opportunities to make a faster investment in Serbia. For example, the construction of an additional 30,000m2 of production facilities was initiated in May 2020. In this regard, a large amount of production equipment will also be procured by the end of 2020,” says Ye Tian, Director at Minth Automotive. “Along with the proposal of new projects, MAE’s first serial production and delivery to customers will start from the beginning of 2021. From
then on we expect a sharp increase in our capacities and sales volumes, which will consequently lead to more jobs and more young professionals employed at our company.”
► To what extent has COVID-19 impacted on your global operations and your Serbian venture? – As a growing body of economic researchers and analysts claim, the auto industry is one of the industrial sectors hardest hit by the impact of COVID-19. As we all know, COVID-19 has caused an economic crisis on a global scale, with a huge impact on the global economy. On the other hand, the MINTH group is a leading global supplier in the design, manufacturing and sales of structural body parts and decorative parts for passenger vehicles. Basically, during this pandemic crisis, Minth Automotive Europe d.o.o. faced and overcame three major challenges: first, in response to the pandemic, we were forced to assess which functions and operational activities are critical and need to continue as normal or be adapted, which are important but not critical, and which can be delayed until the crisis is over. Second, as a result of COVID-19, we had many consequential cancellations of passenger flights linked to 48
FOREIGN INVESTORS COUNCIL 2020
travel bans that limited the availability of our best engineers and technicians who are indispensable for our operational and construction works. And, third, in order to reduce the chances of all our employees being infected or spreading COVID-19, we took all precautionary measures to protect our employees, such as: all employees wearing masks, good working hygiene and regular disinfection of all premises, minimising prolonged contact with individuals in offices and encouraging working from home. Despite all these challenges and problems, MAE succeeded in constructing the three buildings of its factory, confirming once again our clear ambition to continue with our factory construction and employment plans. ► What were the key indicators of the Serbian economic environment that influenced your decision to invest in Serbia? – There were many positive indicators that made us consider Serbia seriously as the country of our choice for new investment. First of all, Serbia has a very good geographical position in Europe, as well as excellent relations with many international markets, such as the EU, CEFTA and many others. Furthermore, Serbia is one of few coun-
