Vučić at the opening of Milbauer factory: "We will have the newest and most modern passports"
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić stated that today in Stara Pazova, Serbia received one of the best factories in the world, operated by the German company Milbauer, for the production of biometric documents using artificial intelligence, and announced that the country will likely have the most modern passports in about two years.
“I am very happy today. This is one of the cornerstones of the future and modern Serbia,” Vučić said after touring the facility.
At the new factory, Vučić tested the most advanced technology for producing passports and other documents.
“You have seen the most modern machines this company has made. I don’t understand much about it, but it is clear that this will be accessible to everyone. It is up to us to raise living standards so citizens can easily obtain documents; life today is fast, and people don’t have much time,” he emphasized.
“It is important that people from Serbia work here—250 exceptional engineers and workers. The most important news for me today is that they will build a third factory, which will be a crown of their, and our, success,” the president added.
He announced that digital passports will soon be issued.
“I thank our German friends for employing 84,000 people in Serbia, by far the largest number,” Vučić said.
“They call them Milbauer kiosks. You approach a machine, it has a kind of tube that moves up and down to take your photo when needed, you complete the passport in the shortest possible time, doing everything yourself without asking anyone. We will work on this and will probably have new, most modern passports in two years, so we must prepare for this process and do everything necessary,” Vučić said during the factory tour with company management and German Ambassador Anke Conrad.
Vučić explained that these machines will allow digitalization and improvements using artificial intelligence for all types of documents.
“For driver’s licenses, ID cards, tax filings, APR registrations, and everything else—basically everything issued by the Ministry of Interior, including weapon permits—you will be able to do it yourself, as quickly as possible, without waiting and losing up to a year,” the president said.
“So we are looking to have this installed within a year. Another important aspect for us is regarding the Expo—we will have e-visas for a large number of foreigners. Anyone coming to the Expo will show their phone, which has the e-visa, allowing entry and also providing access to public transport, road and air travel, ports, and everything else needed. We won’t be able to manage everything manually because all state authorities would be overwhelmed, so we will have to digitalize, just as we will with digital passports. New Zealand already does this, and soon the United Kingdom and others will implement digital passports as well,” Vučić said.
He emphasized that Serbia will also have to issue digital passports alongside the traditional paper ones, adding that the technology is Bavarian and the best in the world.
Upon arriving at the factory, Vučić immediately met with the company’s management. The opening was also attended by German Ambassador to Serbia Anke Conrad.
Milbauer Director: “I Will Return to Open Another Factory”
During a tour of the new Milbauer factory in Stara Pazova with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, company director Josef Milbauer announced that he plans to return to open another factory between the two current facilities. Vučić added that this means Milbauer will build a third factory, which will employ the largest number of workers.
Vučić emphasized that the technology used is German—specifically Bavarian—and the best in the world.
“Josef (Milbauer) is opening a second factory here, with an additional 150 people. Everything is fully automated. I believe that, since they have top-notch people here—which is our treasure—they will also consider a third facility in the near future, employing many more people,” Vučić said.
He highlighted that arranging meetings with Milbauer’s owner is easy, and after agreeing on laying the cornerstone, the factory is quickly completed.
“Whenever we meet, we agree on something new, and it moves forward. I am truly grateful to our German friends for investing in Serbia. This is a major investment, totaling €29.5 million, but what they bring to us is even more valuable. They give us a technological advantage over many others, or even everyone else. So we can proudly say that passports for 30–40 countries will be produced in this country,” Vučić added.
Milbauer demonstrated how the machine that produces documents operates.
“Passports and documents will be produced automatically, and that is just one step. Eventually, we will have a factory where you simply turn off the light, and finished documents come out,” the company director said.
He noted that the company competes with the U.S., where machines producing credit cards exist, but due to U.S. tariffs, they cannot import these machines from China. Instead, they must manufacture them domestically or collaborate with others—a chance Milbauer wants to seize.
“We have been working together for 15 years and have created world-class products together. This is not just German technology; it is our technology. That’s why we are investing €30 million here. We are transitioning to e-mobility in segments and bringing the chip industry from Asia and China back to Europe. This is just one aspect of our joint endeavor here,” Milbauer said.
Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dačić noted that digital passports have been issued since 2008, totaling over 45 million documents. “On average, in the past five years, three million documents per year. Any technological advancement in this regard is welcome,” he emphasized, to which Vučić added that the Ministry of Interior has 350 staff handling this and cannot manage everything.
“The machine can handle everything—automation, digitalization, everything. That is our goal.
This year we had 100,000 work permit applications. In three years, we will have 300,000. This is because of low birth rates. Even with more people returning from abroad, it’s not enough,” the president noted, stressing the need for faster document issuance.
Also present during the factory tour with the president and Milbauer’s director were Finance Minister Siniša Mali, Governor of the National Bank of Serbia Jorgovanka Tabaković, and President of the Provincial Government Maja Gojković.
Milbauer Opens Second Factory in Serbia – Automation Innovation Center
Milbauer marked the opening of its second factory in Serbia, the Automation Innovation Center, celebrating the start of operations at the most advanced facility for producing all types of biometric documents, as part of the expansion of the neighboring Milbauer factory.
The new factory will employ more than 150 people, with an investment exceeding €20 million. For the first time, the Stara Pazova facility will implement cutting-edge technologies based on artificial intelligence and full automation of document production, making Serbia home to the most modern factory in this industry in Europe and beyond.
Following the expected global recovery of the electric vehicle industry by late next year or early 2027, the company plans to install additional machines for production, assembly, and testing of complete lines to manufacture full lithium-based batteries for electric vehicles. The installation of the “dry room” is expected during 2026.
The new factory has already established a new Service Center to provide maintenance for global clients according to existing and future contracts, employing 40 engineers at the center. Construction began in early 2024, and the facility spans 12,000 square meters across three levels.
Founded in 1981 as a company specializing in precision parts for the aviation industry, Milbauer is now a globally recognized manufacturer of innovative end-to-end ID solutions, focusing on the production, personalization, and issuance of secure ID cards and e-passports according to ICAO standards, establishing itself as a reliable partner in implementing security systems.
The company employs nearly 4,500 people, including over 1,500 engineers of various profiles, across more than 35 locations worldwide. Milbauer Group opened its first factory in Serbia in 2012, which currently employs around 250 workers.
Construction of the factory began in early 2024, with the investment project valued at €29.5 million.
The company was founded in 1981 as a specialist in manufacturing parts for the aviation industry. Today, it is a globally recognized producer of innovative end-to-end ID solutions, focusing on the production, personalization, and issuance of secure ID cards and e-passports according to ICAO standards, and has established itself as a competent partner dedicated to implementing security systems.
Worldwide, the company employs 3,870 specialists and generated sales revenue of €324.5 million in 2022.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić attended the opening of a new factory today in Stara Pazova, operated by the German company Milbauer, for the production of biometric documents using artificial intelligence and full automation.
www.b92.net
