On April 29, President Xi Jinping wrote back to the Serbian workers of the Smederevo Steel Mill of the HBIS Group, encouraging them to make new contributions to Sino-Serbian friendship.
As early as June 2016, President Xi Jinping visited the Smederevo Steel Mill of the HBIS Group during his visit to Serbia, where he inspected the plant and interacted with the workers.
“Friends are the fruits of time.” Eight years ago, in an signed article published in the local media before his visit to Serbia, President Xi Jinping quoted this Serbian proverb.
In April 2016, China’s HBIS Group acquired the Smederevo Steel Mill. Over the eight years, HBIS has adhered to the principles of localizing interests, personnel, and culture, transforming the once struggling enterprise into a high-quality project emblematic of the Belt and Road Initiative, turning the “century-old steel plant’s rebirth” into a well-known success story.
In the spring of 2024, our reporter visited HBIS Serbia located in the city of Smederevo by the Danube River, tracing the journey of this steel plant that “blooms in spring and bears fruit in autumn,” along with the heartwarming stories of friendship.
What changes did HBIS bring to Serbian steel mill? The first change brought to the Serbian steel mill by HBIS is that HBIS’s global resources were integrated, transforming it from a regional enterprise into a global one. The second change is that HBIS carried out extensive technological transformations in the company, introducing over 20 proprietary technologies from China’s steel industry. China’s proprietary technologies were patented in Europe. The changes made by China to this steel company have enhanced its sustainable development capabilities and revitalized the company. This is not a short-term action.
In December 2016, Serbian steel mill turned losses around and achieved the best profit level in over a hundred years. In 2018, Serbian steel mill also became the largest export company in the history of Serbia. The business results of these years have all been used for three major projects: a sintering machine, a thermal storage heating furnace, and a gas cabinet.
Ten kilometers south of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, sit the beautiful new home of Mic, a steel mill worker.This house took 13 years from groundbreaking to completion.
In 2003, He started working at the mill. Expecting a stable income, he bought land here to build a house. Unexpectedly, the steel mill’s performance declined later and his income was no longer guaranteed.
He went to the bank to ask whether He could borrow some money since he had a job. They said no. He couldn’t continue building the house, and in 2012, it came to a complete halt. In 2016, after HBIS acquired Smederevo Steel Mill, he went to the bank and said he wanted to borrow some money. They said OK. In the second year of living in the new house, his daughter was born.
In the second year of living in the new house, his daughter was born. He feels that life is wonderful now. It’s not just the living environment that has improved. Supermarkets, restaurants, bars, cinemas, every business is thriving.
Even the local supermarket has designated the 1st and 15th of each month as promotional days, just because it’s the payday of the steel mill.
HBIS Serbia brought confidence, hope, and spirit to Smederevo Steel Mill, vividly displayed in the local workers’ genuine smiles.
Company Name: Hebei Daily Press Group
Contact Person: Zhang Zilong
Email: [email protected]
Country: China
Website: https://www.youtube.com/@hebeimoment
