Deputy Prime Minister for Economic and Regional Development Verica Kalanovic stated Wednesday that Benetton’s textile centre in Nis will employ 2,000 workers by the end of 2013.

While touring the complex of former textile company Nitex, which was purchased by Benetton, Kalanovic stressed that the construction works are unfolding as planned, adding that four factories have been reconstructed and built, while others are still being constructed.

Currently, 400 workers are employed and by the end of 2014 the textile centre will have taken on 2,700 workers, Kalanovic specified, adding that Benetton will have a turnover of EUR 72 million once it starts operating at full capacity with its subcontractors and the production will be export-oriented.

She noted that the agreement between Benetton, Serbia and the city of Nis, which was signed last year, anticipates the reconstruction of factories, environmental clean-up of the complex and destruction of useless facilities.

These works should be completed by the end of this year, she noted.

Benetton promised to invest EUR 43 million and employ 2,700 workers, while the state approved grants amounting to EUR 9,000 for each newly created job.

So far 20,000 square metres of production space has been reconstructed, out of 75,000 square metres of space in the halls that should be built or reconstructed.