Slovenia and Serbia Joining Construction Capacities on Third Markets

Ljubljana/Belgrade, 25 January (STA) - Feniks, a Slovenian-Serbian

construction consortium of more than 40 companies that is focused on a

joint foray into third markets, will be officially launched with a ceremony

in Belgrade on Wednesday.

The project, initiated by Slovenian industrial conglomerate Hidria and

Serbia's PSP Farman, is targeting Russia or Eastern and SE Europe as well

as the Middle East and Far East, business daily Finance reported on

Tuesday.

It includes 15 Slovenian companies that are directly or

indirectly involved also in construction. On the list along with Hidria are

companies such as household appliance maker Gorenje, maker of

pre-fabricated construction panels Trimo Trebnje, and window and door maker

MIK Celje.

Hidria will participate above all with it solutions from

the field of air conditioning, heating, renewable energy use and energy

management in buildings in general. Hidria boss Iztok Seljak will also be

the president of the consortium, Finance reported.

$In the

initial phase, the Slovenian side will not feature the typical major

builders such as Primorje or GH Holding. This however does not mean that

these companies will not join later. It is meanwhile a fact that healthy

finances are one of the conditions for participation,$ Seljak

explained.

The consortium has been endorsed by Slovenian President

Danilo Türk and Serbia's Boris Tadić. The latter is also to meet the

founders of the project.