Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac has said that the Serbian defense industry has flourished in the last four years, thanks to careful planning, execution, team work and promotion abroad.

"From EUR 65 million in exports, we have reached EUR 286 million this year, which is the biggest growth in the history of our defense industry," said Sutanovac, who broke ground for a new Prvi Partizan ammunitions factory in Uzice, western Serbia.

The new plant will accommodate one part of the production previously housed in a facility where an accident killed six workers two and a half years ago.

The defense minister pointed out Prvi Parizan was one of the most important segments of the Serbian defense industry, noting it had doubled production in just four years."Last year, it exported USD 41 million, and this year, it has already exceeded 60 million, which tells us the factory has a good outlook," said the defense minister.

Sutanovac said Prvi Partizan would not be exporting to the EU, the United States and Canada without government support.

This is why it is very important that we continue to promote our country, because 93 percent of Prvi Parizan products are exported to the Western market, he said.

Sutanovac said Serbia would soon start negotiations for joining the European Defense Agency, where Prvi Partizan would be able to apply for funding for new projects and development of new ammunition needed in the world market.

Prvi Partizan Director Dragoslav Andric said the new EUR 6 million factory would be completed in one year.

Another factory will later be built in Tresnjica, near Uzice, thus completely relocating production from the underground facility.