Nine companies interested in Zelezara steel company

BELGRADE - Potential investors have until midnight CET on Tuesday to file their letters of intent concerning the sale of the government-owned steel company Zelezara Smederevo, and so far, 9 companies have presented their letters, with the offer from the US company Esmark being seen as the best option, Radio and Television of Serbia has reported.

Companies from Russia, Switzerland, the US, Bangladesh, Luxembourg, Poland and the UK have entered their bids.

Radio and Television of Serbia lists them as: Krasni Oktobar, Volgograd (Russia), United Group SA, Luxembourg (Luxembourg), RE Alloys SP ZOO, Laziska Gorne (Poland), United Machinery Corporation, Moscow (Russia), North London Trade Centre Limited, London (UK), Esmark Europe B.V, Amsterdam (Holland), Prominvest AG Switzerland, Lugano (Switzerland), Steel + Metal One Holding AG, Zarnen (Switzerland) and Rafflesia Trading Pvt. Ltd, Citagong (Bangladesh).

Zelezara Smederevo Executive Director Bojan Bojkovic told Radio and Television of Serbia on Monday it was important to continue prodj
uction so the new partner would have a starting base to build on.

It is very important for one of the furnaces, which is now at 65-70 percent capacity, be at full capacity and in condition to continue production immediately after the sale contract is signed, he stated.
"We will see what each of the strategic partners is offering , the number of employees, maximum production, long-term plans for the investment, each partner's promise to stay in Smederevo and make steel for years or decades to come," he remarked.

Photo Tanjug/S. Radovanovic