Zijin Mining Group Ltd. donates 2nd Fire Eye COVID-19 testing lab built by BGI in Nis, Serbia in 2020

On April 7th, 2020, Agriculture Minister Branislav Nedimovic announced the launch of a second Fire Eye COVID-19 testing laboratory in Nis, Serbia. On July 30th, 2020, the testing lab was opened. Sometime between its announcement and completion, China Zijin Mining Group Ltd. donated 500,000 euro to the lab in Serbia. The Chinese BGI Group built the laboratory and additionally provided funding. The first Fire Eye COVID-19 testing lab was opened in Belgrade, Serbia on April 20th, 2020, and was also built by BGI Group.

Additional details

1. One source ("Serbia to launch COVID-19 laboratory in Nis") reports that Agriculture Minister Branislav Nedimovic stated that the lab in Nis would additionally be financed via a donation from the Chinese Government. Xinhua reports twice, once the lab had opened and prior, that the Government of Serbia had financed the lab, with the only additional financing mentioned being that from China Zijin Mining Group Ltd. AidData has chosen to not create an additional project for a donation from the Chinese government given that (1) the reporting from Xinhua is more detailed and explicit and (2) the article citing the Chinese government was published before the laboratory was complete. However, this issue warrants further investigation.

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12