Serbia's Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac has said that the defence industry is an important part of Serbia's economy in terms of export, adding that since he took office in 2007, the defence industry has exported USD 750 million worth of weapons and equipment.

There are around 9,000 people working in the seven companies that comprise the country's defence industry, Sutanovac told the Politika daily. Their export stood at USD 75 million in 2007, and last year it reached USD 247 million, he noted, adding that new deals are being negotiated.

Contracts have been closed for an export deal worth USD 400 million, while another deal, worth USD 50 million, is being worked on, he stated, adding that the contracts referred to three factories in north Africa.

"This all comes up to USD 1.2 billion in export deals during my mandate, meaning that I have fulfilled my promise," Sutanovac stressed.

According to the minister, USD 300 million came from Iraq, USD 85 million from the U.S., USD 29 million from Afghanistan, USD 23 million from Belgium, USD 17 million from Libya and there are also deals with Cyprus and Kuwait.

Angola has shown interest in having Serbian companies rebuild one of its air force bases and construct a military hospital and weapons factory, which could be the biggest job of 2011, Sutanovac announced.