Serbia opened what the government described as Europe's first mass-production facility for humanoid robots on August 29, with President Aleksandar Vucic hailing the project as a step into a new technological era.

The plant, operated by Minth Group in partnership with robotics company AGIBOT, is part of a wider €200mn investment plan that Serbia hopes will establish the country as a European base for an industry still in its early stages.

Vucic, who attended the opening ceremony, said he hoped the Sabac plant would initially assemble more than 5,000 robots a year, arguing that Serbia needed to keep pace with the world's leading technological powers.

"I am certain that today we have taken a historic, pioneering step into the future. Serbia has stepped into the future today," Vucic said, according to public broadcaster RTS.

He said the robots would initially be used in industrial production, with applications later expanding to areas including education and public services.

During a tour of the factory, Vucic interacted with a humanoid robot that greeted him in English and demonstrated functions including folding clothes, playing chess, dancing and writing Chinese calligraphy.

The factory covers around 3,000 square metres and focuses on assembling robots and robotic dogs, as well as calibrating and testing their movement and vision systems.

Different models range from 130 to 173 centimetres in height and weigh between 35 and 55 kg, according to the company.

Military use

Vucic also said Serbia was testing humanoid robots for use by its armed forces and that a demonstration would take place in about 15 days.

"You will see them not only walking, but you will see them using weapons, very serious weapons," he said during the factory tour.

The comments point to a potential military application for the technology alongside the project's stated industrial and civilian uses.

Vucic visited Minth's innovation centre in Shanghai during a trip to China in May, where he viewed demonstrations of robotic technologies.

He has increasingly showcased robotics as part of Serbia's drive to attract high-tech investment from China. In June, humanoid robots appeared alongside him at a pro-government rally in Belgrade, where they danced on stage as Vucic announced plans for an early election.

At Saturday's opening, Minth founder Qin Zhonghua said the company was pleased to have chosen Serbia as a partner.

Vucic also thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for China's support, saying Serbia aimed to combine robotics manufacturing with artificial intelligence, supercomputing and data centres to develop local skills and employment.

The project adds to a growing presence of Chinese manufacturers in Serbia, a candidate for European Union membership that has maintained close economic ties with Beijing while seeking closer integration with the bloc.