00:00This factory is a symbol of Germany's auto sector but placed in Serbia.
00:04ZF Group, a technology manufacturing company that focuses on supplies for cars, set up
00:10this 300 million euro factory in PanÄŤevo, not too far from the capital Belgrade.
00:15The production here for EV supplies is sustainable and environmentally friendly since 2019, labor
00:22costs are lower than Germany and foreign investors can obtain permits fast, however demand is
00:28weak in the automotive industry across Europe and Serbia.
00:32Sales figures in the automotive industry are stagnating worldwide.
00:36All production facilities could produce more including ours.
00:39The German parent company is checking where and how it can utilize surplus resources.
00:47The technology here is state of the art, production development and research all under the same roof.
00:54Many of the 1200 employees were trained here in a dual vocational system mirroring the German system.
01:05Everything we have achieved here is the result of the support we get from our colleagues in Germany.
01:13Hundreds of German companies are active in Serbia, employing tens of thousands of people.
01:19On average, they pay more than comparable companies in the country.
01:23Germany is Serbia's top trading partner. Their trade volume exceeds 9 billion euros.
01:32Last year we had a trade surplus with Germany. The companies there consider Serbian suppliers to be reliable partners.
01:40That shows that we're well positioned in the market.
01:43We are well positioned in the market.
01:47Serbia's government is trying to maintain a balance between trade with the EU and its eastern partners.
01:54Besides China, this is primarily Russia, with whom they have historical ties.
02:02Since the late 90s, Serbs are cautious of the West. At the time, NATO countries bombed Serbia to stop escalating
02:10the
02:10violent clashes between the Albanians and the Serbs in Kosovo. The effects are still felt today.
02:16Only 47 percent of Serbs support EU membership. Almost as many are against it.
02:27Serbia is in disarray. There is no justice. It's a corrupt state. We would be better off with EU membership.
02:38The EU needs us more than we need it. I'm in favor of EU membership, but I don't see it
02:46happening.
02:49But the EU membership does have its own benefits. Currently, Serbian truck drivers are only allowed
02:56to travel in the Schengen visa zone for 90 days within a 180-day period. But that's not good enough.
03:03Serbian transport companies complain. Much of the fleet ends up in several EU countries.
03:09It's cheaper to drive from Serbia, but quite time-consuming. Many long-haul drivers overstay the 90-day limit.
03:19Currently, our biggest problem is that truck drivers are being arrested in EU countries,
03:24even though they are simply doing their jobs.
03:26They want to add their jobs.
03:29Politicians and businesses have been negotiating with Brussels to allow truck drivers to stay in the
03:35Schengen area longer, but have been unsuccessful so far. In protest, the drivers have announced plans
03:42to block border crossings next month.
03:44that mission no one.
03:45Bye-bye here.
03:45Bye-bye.
03:48Bye.
03:48You
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