Press release

Ljubljana, 14th May 2010 - In Kragujevac there will be the first international specialized exhibition of automotive components in South-Eastern Europe held from 19th to 21st May 2010. On the show room 95 m2 sized, provided by the Public Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Entrepreneurship and Foreign Investments (JAPTI), will be presented 13 Slovenian companies, the members of the Automotive Cluster of Slovenia (ACS): CIMOS, TPV, SG Automotive, G1, APR, Iskra ISD, Tevel, ETI Gum, Hella Saturnus, Mariborska Livarna Maribor, KGL, SEP in Domel.

The fair will also visit a representative of the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Serbia as well as representatives of the Slovenian Business Club in Belgrade.

SEE COMPO Net 2010 will be held on 1,600 m2 of exhibition space as a three-day fair event, which will be accompanied by a number of activities: round tables, presentations, supplier development program, "Meeting customers' and others. There will be more than 100 exhibitors, manufacturers of the components of Southeast Europe (companies from Serbia, Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina ...), industrial equipment and monitoring tools, organizations and institutions to support the development of the automotive industry. First day of the fair will be organized "to meet with customers" as the key event with the participation of a number of vehicle manufacturers and system suppliers, which include GM and VW.

Participation of Slovenian automotive suppliers with Serbia has a long tradition. Based on the forecast for the development of the automotive market in Southeast Europe, the Slovenian producers of components and equipment will open up many opportunities to increase cooperation, especially in the localization of Fiat's production in Serbia. Automotive Cluster of Slovenia has been involved in the transfer of knowledge and experiences in Serbia and here it can still play an important role.

ACS has implemented a project in Serbia: "development of a network of suppliers and support institutions in Serbia for the needs of ACS members", with the Partnership for United Nations for International Development - UNIDO supported by development funds by the Ministry of Economy. It has been successfully completed last year with a final conference in Belgrade. For Slovenia, the project is important for business links with the vehicle manufacturer Fiat Group and its suppliers. Slovenian suppliers, who have expertise and good practice developed within the EU can play an important role in transferring good practices on partners in Serbia. They can establish lasting business relationships and bring comparative advantages in localization of suppliers to the needs of a FIAT, vehicle manufacturers and system Serbia and suppliers throughout the region of South-eastern Europe. The aim of the project was to significantly improve the competitive position of Slovenian suppliers to enter the FIAT-à-panel suppliers, so we expect that will continue in the second half of this year and provide further support to Slovenian suppliers.