ASDA exhibition opened in Split

For the first time Croatia and Split have been hosting such an exhibition organized by the U.S. Company TNT Productions Inc. specialized in international exhibitions. 138 exhibitors from 23 countries, including 50 Croatian companies, participate on the exhibition, and the exhibition is held under the auspices of the Croatian Government and supported by the Croatian Ministry of Defence.
The opening ceremony was attended by Defence Minister Davor Bozinovic, MOD state secretaries Mate Raboteg, Zeljko Gorsic and Pjer Simunovic, Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Drago Lovric, Deputy Chiefs of General Staff Lieutenant General Slavko Baric and Rear Admiral Zdenko Simicic, President of the Croatian Chamber of Economy Nadan Vidosevic, President of TNT Productions Justin Webb, military attaches, representatives of the exhibitors and numerous other distinguished gusts.
When opening the exhibition Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor said that she believed that this would be the start of a good tradition and the inevitable meeting place and place of exchange of experiences, adding that she was very pleased with the good turnout of exhibitors. She wished, particularly to Croatian exhibitors, many business successes, and said: “An important dimension of the Adriatic sea defence and aerospace exhibition is its orientation towards the region. On its own way ASDA will provide an important contribution to regional dialogue and be part of a mosaic in building regional stability and security”. She expressed hope that ASDA would be an additional stimulus to the development of the Croatian economy and its competitive capabilities on the European and world markets, and particularly pointed out in the end: “Adriatic sea defence and aerospace exhibition will contribute to mutual understanding in the region and strengthen ties between government and industry as well as in enhancing international cooperation.”
Defence Minister Davor Bozinovic thanked the organizer of the exhibition – U.S. Company TNT Productions on choosing Split as a place for the event, and also expressed hope that this exhibition, the largest in this part of Europe, would continue in the future. Minister Bozinovic wished guests from the region, Europe and beyond to use the exhibition to open new business opportunities. He wished it to Croatian companies as well, 54 Croatian companies participate on the exhibition, which shows, as the Minister said, that Croatian industry in this segment was strong and distinctive.
President of the Croatian Chamber of Economy Nadan Vidosevic stressed the exceptional importance of this event for the Croatian economy and recalled that many companies established during the Homeland war today have world-recognized brands. “In 2003, as part of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, association of Croatian military equipment producers was formed. In no area of ​​economic activity Croatia did not succeed to create an internationally recognized brands except in the segment of arms and military equipment”, Vidosevic said adding that “there is no technical and technological progress, no development of a country, without a military component that is built into it”.
On behalf of the exhibition’s organizer, President of TNT Productions Justin Web welcomed all the present and thanked the institutions and individuals who helped in organizing this exhibition, primarily Croatian Government and the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Croatia.
After the opening ceremony, PM Kosor accompanied by high domestic and foreign military and civilian guests visited the exhibition and met up with the part of exhibitors and their products.
As part of the opening ceremony, a demonstrational exercise of joint activities of the Croatian Navy, Croatian Air Force and Special Operations Battalion was held in the port of Lora. The exercise was about methods and procedures in effect at the Coast Guard to intercept a foreign ship carrying suspicious cargo in Croatian territorial waters, search of the vessel, operations of special forces with air support, and search and rescue operations.
Program in Lora completed with attractive performance of air show group Wings of Storm of the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence.
At the end of the program in Lora, Minister Bozinovic in a media statement said that this exhibition was the first visible indication that the world and Croatia in this business interact. We have several brands that are at the top in the world, the Minister said, stressing particularly the Croatian manufacturers of military uniforms, helmets and guns and assault rifles. He emphasized that the task of the government and the defence ministry was to support military production. He added that Croatia as NATO member cooperated with major armies of the world and said: “They are our allies and the largest manufacturers of military equipment and weapons as well, and this opens the space to Croatian industry”.

You can find more info on ASDA 2011 exhibition here.