Vucic: Cornerstone laid for Serbia-Japan vision of future

INDJIJA - At a ceremony that marked the start of works to build a Toyo Tire innovation centre in Indjija, northwestern Serbia, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday a cornerstone was also being laid for a joint Serbia-Japan vision of the future and that Serbia had become a strategic hub from which companies could break into markets in various parts of the world.

Vucic noted that the Japanese tyre manufacturer had come to Serbia in 2019 to set up its first European production plant.

"And today, seven years later, it (the plant) is becoming the research and development centre for the entire European continent," Vucic added.

He noted that Serbia was proud of every Japanese investment project in its territory, especially of the one in Indjija.

"Toyo is a company that demonstrates and proves that Serbia is a strategic hub from which you can break into markets in various parts of the world. With a workforce of 638 people, with an investment worth almost 383 mln euros and operating revenues exceeding 165 mln euros in 2024, Toyo Serbia is a symbol of determination, perseverance and always, of course, of superior quality," Vucic said.

"We are especially glad Toyo has a research and development centre for entire Europe in Indjija," he added.

He said the innovation centre - an investment worth 29 mln euros - was a clear message that Serbia had the human potential, the infrastructure and the ambition necessary for the highest levels of technological development.

Vucic, Toyo Tire executive Satoru Moriya and Atsushi Saito, a representative of the Japanese embassy in Serbia, marked the start of works to build the facility.