Viadukt interested in cooperating with Zavarivac – Vranje-based company to build Sava bridge between Bosnia and Croatia?

Representatives of the Croatian construction company Viadukt have visited the facilities of Zavarivac in Vranje in order to familiarize themselves with the company's capacity for the purpose of potential cooperation on a job worth around EUR 20 million.

The investor pointed out that it was interested in investments in Zavarivac in stages, through the modernization of the equipment and hiring qualified workforce for the purpose of the construction of a bridge across the Sava, between Croatia and Bosnia, with around 5,000 tons of metal structure.

– We want to employ as many people as possible in order to ensure that this job, which requires great responsibility, could be carried out abroad – says Veselin Sjekloca of Viadukt.

The Zagreb-based company wants to develop a partnership with Zavarivac in the future, encompassing, in addition to bridge building, reconstruction of refineries, operations in the transport sector in Russia, but also projects in the Middle East and Cameroon.

Due to the problems which have accumulated in the past years, burdening this company which has a long tradition behind it, they are currently trying to find a concept or a business model providing them with projects to work on.

– We are planning joint projects in the future. Of course, investments are needed and the company has to be put back on its feet, and the benefits are manifold, from the import of new technology to securing jobs for the workers – says Josko Nikolic, president of the Viadukt management.

Branislav Popovic, director general of Zavarivac, says that they are hoping to sign an agreement on cooperation or lease, possible even the purchase of the company following the bankruptcy proceedings.

– There are interested people and companies that want big projects to be done here. I'm hoping for a cooperation so that the industry might thrive in Vranje and so that Zavarivac would be a company to look up to, perhaps not to the extent it once was, but certainly a respectable company by European standards – Popovic believes.

Potential bankruptcy proceedings and solving of ownership issues within Zavarivac will not impact the projects to be agreed, as the same people will be hired in new projects in different ways, Popovic emphasizes.

Zavarivač a.d. Vranje

VIADUKT d.d. Zagreb

Zavarivac Vranje

Viadukt Zagreb

construction of Sava bridge between Croatia and Bosnia

Veselin Sjekloca

bridge building

reconstruction of refineries

Josko Nikolic

Branislav Popovic

Zavarivac bankruptcy proceedings