Vučić in Niš: I will continue to push like a bulldozer PHOTO

Speech of the President

"I am happy to be in Niš today, for two equally important reasons: the foundation stone that will bring job opportunities to Niš residents, bring income and pay salaries, and the second reason is the investment in the terminal building, after investments in roads and railways. We will have to build logistic cargo, but also increase the number of flights and the number of low-cost companies," says Vučić.

He says that the plan is to triple the number of passengers, but also to refurbish the old building of the Nis terminal.

"An additional 60 million euros have been planned for the construction of infrastructure at the airport in Niš as part of the Serbia 2027 project. Along with Belgrade, Niš will be the main hub for receiving passengers during the Expo, and Niš will have not only indirect benefits, but also direct revenues. The airport will be one of the most important items through which Niš will earn".

He says that commitment and investment will continue.

"I want to thank the people in the south of Serbia. Niš is one of the two or three places where we have done the most. This shows how much attention we paid to Niš and the south of Serbia. As far as Serbia is concerned, I have only one wish: to continue working and we are building, and we are 23 days late for this, which is almost nothing for such a capital facility. Some mistakes will be seen when the airport starts to be used, but this is an excellent job".

He says that we as a country must continue not to lag behind our projects and not be late.

"We are now progressing faster than many countries and the gap is shrinking day by day. Our growth rate of 4 percent compared to their 0.3 is drastic. The whole of Europe will hardly be competitive unless something changes. You can't work three or four days. Someone will quote this in 20 years and point out where we may have made a mistake, and I will do my best not to make it".

Tour of the airport

"We now have to adopt measures for the growth of the airport and passenger traffic. We will give special subsidies to Air Serbia, we will develop cargo transportation - that can bring a lot of money," says the president.

He added that it's hard to think about cargo when you don't have an industry.

"Now we have 12-13 factories, when we have 20, only then will cargo make sense".

"I am happy that people are employed, but economic capacities must grow. If Nis had a logistics center and cargo, it is a huge opportunity for the development of Nis".

The president stated that Niš will establish a line from the outside and that Serbia is negotiating with low cost companies.

"When there is a train, it will be easier to connect Belgrade and Niš airports. Going by car is torture because of the crowd."

He adds that a modern airport, train station, and bus station must be seen in every city.

"We are working on all that. Unlike Novi Sad, Nis has an airport, four highways. The arrival of factories will bring more income to the city of Nis".

He believes that the income of Niš is still low, the budget is low, but as he says, that is why more work must be done. The number of passengers at Niš airport increased from 27,000 in 2012 to a record 448,000 last year, and half a million passengers are expected next year.

"We are about to talk with low cost companies, in order to leave them space, and because of the upcoming Expo, many people will land in Nis".

He says that our companies must operate profitably, such a company is Air Serbia and not JAT, which must be shut down.

"The essence is to ensure that people in Niš can travel, use the airport as often as possible. You can do all that only when you have factories, then it's all a sustainable plan".

As he says, the state invested in this, talking about the terminal building.

"This year, there will be a slightly lower number of passengers, due to the lack of low-cost companies. With an average salary of 795 euros today, the next budget will increase salaries and pensions."

He says that we have to understand that we still have mostly middle-class people, a small number of people who have a lot of money, but also those who are poor.

"We have to work on these things by increasing salaries and pensions. By bringing in investors and higher incomes, we will be able to create a middle-middle class. Only then will there be a huge number of passengers here".

"You will never hear from anyone that they live well, even though the situation in the state is twice as good, salaries and budgets are higher... The bypass will cost more than the entire budget of the city of Nis, and how is Nis going to pay for it? Not to pay a single salary again would not be able to pay off the projects. We want a richer and economically stronger Niš".

About the terminal building

The new building of the Niš airport, as the director of the airport "Konstantnin The Great" Mihajlo Zdravković said earlier, is ready for use, as determined by the commission for technical reception.

According to him, 11 million euros were invested in the building, another five million in equipment and systems, and 17 million euros in the infrastructure of the access road and parking lots in front of the terminal building itself.

He pointed out that the new building was designed for 1.5 million passengers annually and to serve six aircraft at the same time.

"The building will have 10 check-in counters, a 400-square-meter free-shop, business space for airlines, rent-a-car agencies, a business club, a VIP section and everything that modern airports in numerous European cities offer. The new building covers 7,500 square meters," he added.

The foundation stone for the new building was laid on March 21, 2022.