The policy of the Ministry of Economy and Industry is aimed at actively supporting and stimulating cross-border cooperation of our defence sector. In this way, we create the necessary preconditions for the participation of our industry in the mechanisms for building defence-technological capacities of NATO and the EU and its further successful integration into the European defence technological and industrial base. This was stated by the Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry Dr. David Sukalinski in his address to the participants in the meeting of the Industrial Forum within the framework of the 16th International Exhibition of Defence Products and Services ‘Hemus 2024’.
‘At the Ministry of Economy and Industry, we see the modernisation processes of our Armed Forces as an opportunity that our defence industry must seize in order to expand its production capacity and achieve the desired technological renewal’, the Deputy Minister of Economy said.
Dr David Sukalinski also reminded the forum that for the first time in the history of the EU, grant funds were earmarked to support the European defence technological and industrial base. He also highlighted the instruments developed by the EU to boost the competitiveness and innovation capacity of the defence industry. These include the European Defence Industrial Strategy, the European Defence Fund, the European defence industry reinforcement through common procurement act (EDIRPA), the European Defence Industry Programme and other initiatives.
‘The Bulgarian defence industry should take advantage of these opportunities to remain competitive and to consolidate its position on the global markets. To this end, a qualitatively new, progressive approach to innovation and an even more comprehensive cooperation and exchange of information between the civilian and defence research structures and the scientific and technical community both at home and among our strategic partners is needed’, Deputy Minister Sukalinski further said.
Earlier, he participated in a press conference during which he reported a 30% growth in the export of defence products from our country in 2023 compared to the previous two years. ‘This is due to the good quality and competitive price of Bulgarian defence products, as well as the state support for it’, said Deputy Minister Sukalinski.
The official signing of the agreement between Lockheed Martin Global INC and the state-owned company Avionams took place during the exhibition. The document provides for the implementation of three projects of the Framework Agreement between the Ministry of Economy and Industry and Lockheed Martin Global INC on the F-16 Block 70 Industrial Cooperation Program.
‘Hemus 2024’ is held under the patronage of the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Economy and Industry. The main organizer is Hemus 95 Foundation. This is the 16th edition of the specialised forum and the strongest since its inception in 2006. 147 companies from 25 countries are participating, with the number of exhibitors growing by 60 percent.