There is such a steel mill in Smederevo, Serbia. To borrow the words of the local people: "A steel mill makes a city happy."

Chinese companies bring hope

The Smederevo Steel Plant, established in 1913, is a well-known local mill with a century of age and was once known as the "Pride of Serbia". However, due to fierce competition in the international market and poor management, the plant was once in trouble and was almost on the verge of bankruptcy. "When our steel plant was in the worst condition, no one knew whether there would be work the next day. Just when everyone did not know what to do, Chinese companies came." Dimir Ilic recalled.

In April 2016, China's Hegang Group purchased a steel plant for 46 million euros and established Hegang Serbia Co., Ltd. (Hegang Saigang). More than 5,000 employees facing unemployment in the steel plant ushered in the dawn and returned to the workshop. The then Serbian Prime Minister Vucic said: “We have spent countless days and nights for this, and all cabinet members have worked hard. In the past three years, hopes have turned into disappointments. Finally, Chinese partners have brought us real hope. ."

After the acquisition, HBIS Group dispatched technical backbones from China to Smederevo to carry out equipment maintenance and system transformation of the steel plant. At the same time, the Serbian management team and production technical backbone were also invited to HBIS for exchange and training. At present, there are only a few Chinese managers stationed in the steel plant, and the daily production and operation of the company are still in charge of local Serbian employees. "My grandfather and dad also worked in the steel mill. I am the third generation of the steel mill and the most'official' among the three generations." I am very satisfied with the management model and my work. The steel mills guaranteed the employment of 5,000 employees. Workers’ wages and benefits have been significantly increased, and the local unemployment rate has fallen sharply. As Serbian President (then Prime Minister) Vucic said: hope."

In just a few months, HBIS Saigang started its second blast furnace, which increased the monthly steel output from 60,000 to 70,000 tons to 129,000 tons, turning losses into profits. Since then, the monthly output of 129,000 tons has been maintained until now. Nowadays, thanks to the united efforts of employees from China and Serbia, HBIS Steel has lived up to expectations and has become a model project for China-CEEC capacity cooperation and the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Help from China and the Chinese people

There are more than 20,000 employees and their families in the Smederevo Steel Plant, which is equivalent to 1/5 of the city's population. The acquisition of Hegang Group not only restored the vitality of the Smederevo Steel Plant, but also promoted the development of the entire city. Thanks to the rebirth of the steel plant, the annual fiscal revenue of Smederevo has more than doubled. The locals all gave thumbs up when they talked about China and Chinese companies.

Snezana Dvecherski is 54 years old and is an electrical buyer in the purchasing department of a steel plant. Her family has worked here for three generations. It can be said that she has personally experienced the ups and downs of the steel plant, and also witnessed the steel plant's survival with the help of Chinese companies. Dvechelski wrote this paragraph in the internal publications of the factory: My grandfather, parents and brothers all work in the factory, and the current job is very satisfying. It gives me a sense of security and belonging. I will work harder.

Smederevo Mayor Yasna Avramovic said in an interview that the acquisition of Smederevo Steel Plant by HBIS is the result of high-level cooperation between the governments of Serbia and China. The development of the city of Revo has had a huge positive impact. The city’s unemployment rate has dropped from 18% to 6%. Thanks to China's investment, the local education, health care, transportation and other living conditions have been significantly improved, and the employees of HBIS Saigang are full of confidence in the future.

Zivorad Lavkovich, a worker in the hot rolling mill, is an old employee of the plant and has been working here for 39 years. He said that now the company pays special attention to strengthening personnel management, updating equipment, and improving productivity. "Now I work stably, and I feel completely different from before." Four years ago, he introduced a son who worked at a gas station to work in a steel mill. He said: "In the past, my son relied on our parents to help, but now he is completely self-sufficient."

Nikolas Kovacevich, a driver who works at Hegang Steel, said that since working at Hegang Steel, his salary has increased by 30%. The increase in income gave him the ability to renovate the old house and build a new floor.

In an interview, President Vucic said: “We will never forget the help of China and the Chinese people. Serbia will do its best to continue to be a partner of China’s Belt and Road Initiative and try its best to improve the cooperation between the two sides in related areas of the Belt and Road Initiative. Cooperation." Editor/Tian Zengpeng