Mind Park, an industrial complex in Kragujevac, has celebrated five years since the foundation stone was laid, and as the company Mind Group (which is behind this project) states, in the coming months we can expect the finalization of contracts with giants such as Škoda and Stadler.
Already in the next month, we expect a new partnership, said Bratislav Milanović, general director of Mind Group, in an address to journalists during a tour of the park, adding that he could not provide more details while the negotiations were ongoing.
We remind you that Milanović became famous after the sale of his then company to Siemens, which today is one of Mind Park’s largest partners, with production facilities in a complex near Kragujevac.
As Milanović explained, the reason why cooperation with Škoda has not started yet is a change in the management of the Czech company. “They had a change in structures, but we expect that with the new administration they will make an even bigger story,” said Milanović.
“That contract is still valid, and we work with them and are in constant contact”, added the founder of Mind and stated that according to the plans, Škoda should be as important a partner of the company as Siemens is currently.
Unlike the Czech car manufacturer, Stadler Rail (a company that produces railway vehicles, with an emphasis on regional rolling stock and trams) delayed its arrival in Kragujevac due to the geopolitical and economic situation, and the main problem was the outbreak of the armed conflict In Ukraine. The Stadler company asked us to be patient until the situation calms down a bit “because of what they had in Belarus”, so we expect them “every day”, Milanović said.
The problem that Milanović is referring to materialized in the spring of 2022, when Stadler CEO Peter Spuhler said that the company would move part of its production from its factory near Minsk to Poland and Switzerland due to Western sanctions against Russia and Belarus. The Stadler company asked us to be patient until the situation calms down a bit “because of what they had in Belarus”, so we expect them “every day”, Milanović said.
The problem that Milanović Is referring to materialized in the spring of 2022, when Stadler CEO Peter Spuhler said that the company would move part of its production from its factory near Minsk to Poland and Switzerland due to Western sanctions against Russia and Belarus.
During the tour of the seven Mind Group companies and partners operating within the complex, we learned that part of the group (AMM Manufacturing company) produces roofs for TGV high-speed trains produced by the French company Alstom.
The railway Is also waiting
Another thing that is being awaited is the railway that should be built soon and that would connect Mind Park with the rest of the railway network of Serbia. As the company told us during the tour of the complex, the conceptual design has been completed, but the construction is delayed.
“We expect the railway next year, we have to be patient,” Milanović told reporters. He explained that the company is building a container terminal while waiting for the railway to be built. It should contribute to speeding up transport and deliveries, but also reduce transport costs, which would make the companies operating within the complex more competitive.
As they explained to us during the tour, one of the problems that currently exist is the fact that most of the products are sent by trucks. Taking into account that the products include entire chassis for train cars and trams, it is clear that the transport of compositions requires special means, permits, and time.
“Trams are sent by trucks. Due to the length of the composition and traffic safety, those trucks leave and move at night,” the company told us, adding that all this will be much easier when the railway is built in 2024. Milanović said that so far there have been no broken promises by the local or central authorities, and that he has no reason to doubt that the railway will be completed when said. “In the next month, we will start building a logistics center of 15,000 square meters where we can distribute goods and store them,” Milanović added.
Benefits, restaurant and kindergarten
In addition to becoming more competitive with the construction of the railway, Mind Park’s partners and clients can already offer their employees what has not been a given in larger cities in Serbia for a long time – a kindergarten for children.
As we were told during the tour, the institution for employees’ children called Mini Mind has capacity for 220 children, and currently about 100 places are filled. Teaching is bilingual.
For those with subsidies from the city, a place in a kindergarten costs 6,500 dinars per month, while the price for users without subsidies is higher and amounts to 14,900 dinars for the first and 10,500 dinars for the second child.
In addition to the kindergarten, employees can also use the Culinaris restaurant (another subsidiary of Mind Group), which was founded in 2016 and has a canteen and an “a la carte” restaurant. The area of the restaurant is 2,400 square meters, while the restaurant works in two shifts, until nine o’clock in the afternoon, we were told during the tour.
Self-sustaining city and flying
In addition to things that are happening now, or expected in the near future, Milanović also announced the construction of a self-sustaining city project that would be unique in Europe, and where “young people will be able to live surrounded by nature.”
“For us, ecology has always been one of the main elements. That at no point should we come to a situation where we have any environmental pollution,” Milanović said, explaining that the self-sustaining city will be located on the northern side of the industrial park “with a view of Oplenac “.
At the beginning of June, an airport with a grass runway of 900 meters will be in operation, which will be available to the partners of Mind Park, and there is already a great interest in training pilots, aviation mechanics and aviation engineers, Milanović said. As he told reporters, he is a passionate pilot himself, and has licenses to fly private small planes and helicopters.
“Instead of enjoying it, I was building the Mind Park, so now I’m a little out of shape, but I can’t wait for this to end so we can enjoy it,” said Milanović jokingly, promising that a flight on a smaller plane would be part of one of the next tours complex.
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