Ambassador Warlick Attends the Grand Opening of Eurofoil’s New Recycling Facility in Bor

May 25, 2012.

Ambassador Warlick joined Minister of Environment, Mining and Spatial Planning Oliver Dulic and Minister of Economy and Regional Development Nebojsa Ciric to celebrate the grand opening of Eurofoil’s new plastic bottle recycling facility in Bor on May 25.  The Ambassador and Minister Dulic cut a ceremonial ribbon to mark the official opening of the plant, and the Ambassador pushed the “start” button for the facility’s recycling equipment.  The recycling plant, the first of its kind in Serbia, has the capacity to process 7,000 tons of plastic (PET) bottles and polyethylene waste into feedstock for the production of food packaging materials and cables, among other products.  The joint American-Serbian-Croatian investment, valued at over $5.5 million, created 30 new jobs.  The U.S. Embassy has actively supported the project as part of its ongoing effort to help develop Serbia’s recycling capabilities. 

In her remarks, Ambassador Warlick commented that the investment would “contribute to the diversification of Bor’s economy and help to preserve the natural beauty of the Bor region.”  The Ambassador praised the investors from the United States, Serbia and Croatia for “helping to create a commercial recycling industry on a national scale, and [for] setting an example for other entrepreneurs to follow.  Thanks in great part to your efforts, we are witnessing the birth of a commercially viable “green industry” here in Serbia.”  Ambassador Warlick called Eurofoil “a superb example of the benefits of regional business cooperation and of the growing economic and commercial relationship between the United States and Serbia.” 

Ambassador Warlick also met with RTB Bor Copper and Mining General Director Blagoje Spaskovski and Bor Mayor Nebojsa Videnovic to discuss the economic and social situation in Bor.  General Director Spaskovski gave the Ambassador a tour of RTB Bor’s copper casting facilities and the construction site for the company’s new multi-million dollar copper smelter, during which they discussed proposals for strengthening business ties between RTB Bor and American mining and mining equipment companies.  Mayor Videnovic and General Director Spaskovski also gave Ambassador Warlick a tour of several new recreational facilities in Bor, including a new horse racing track and skateboarding park.  The Ambassador commented that she was “very impressed by these and other recent improvements in the city.”