Alongside the representatives of firms and Croatian and international state, economic, military and academic institutions and experts in defence industry, the Conference was attended by the Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovi\u0107, the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Damir Krsti\u010devi\u0107, the Minister of the Interior Davor Bo\u017einovi\u0107, the President of the Croatian Chamber of Economy Luka Burilovi\u0107, the Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Drago Matanovi\u0107 and others.
The Conference featured lectures, presentations and expert panels which covered\u00a0 the growth and the importance of the defence industry in Croatia for its security and society, the Armed Forces\u00a0 and other defence and security institutions, the economy as a whole and the research and academic community.\u00a0 The participants analysed the current situation and the potential for future development and better exporting balance, as well as the progress in the research and development sector and were presented the experiences from other countries and the projects related to the defence industry in the EU and NATO.<\/p>\n
The President of the Republic Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovi\u0107 in a video-streamed address emphasised that it was through its defence industry and the participation in peace missions and operations that Croatia contributed to the global security. The President also pledged to insist on greater\u00a0 involvement of government bodies in the\u00a0 development of the defence industry, which has a crucial role in the equipment of the Croatian Armed Forces and whose quality earned it a place in the international markets.\u00a0
Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovi\u0107 said the defence industry had a growing share in the exports, which have contributed\u00a0 significantly to Croatia’s economic growth\u00a0 and it was associated at the national level with the development of science, technology and innovations and launched a number of activities.
\u201cThe Croatian defence industry can generate greater development of the Republic of Croatia and\u00a0 provide greater security of its citizens\u201c, said the Prime Minister, who also pointed to the currently ongoing EU projects of potential interest for the Republic of Croatia in terms of financial support, research and development\u201c.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Damir Krsti\u010devi\u0107 stressed that the dynamic and high-tech profile Croatian defence industry was an important factor of the overall economic development, also through\u00a0 promoting the innovation in the complementary industry sectors
Praising the fact that the Croatian soldiers were equipped entirely with the Croatia-made products, the Minister stated that the investment into equipment and modernisation of the defence system was a prerequisite of the development of the Croatian defence industry.
Minister Krsti\u010devi\u0107 cited the example of the multi-purpose fighter aircraft as an excellent opportunity for the industry. “One of the main choice parameters concerning the fighter aircraft will be the future business and economy co-operation with the new partners, which is expected to upgrade the technology level and to promote the economy, the business of the Croatian firms and to create new jobs\u201c.
The Ministry of Defence aims to be the key partner in the development of the defence industry, to develop new capabilities and invest into research and development\u201c, concluded Minister Krsti\u010devi\u0107.<\/p>\n
The Minister of the Interior Davor Bo\u017einovi\u0107 underlined that the Croatian policemen need to be well-equipped and trained to be able to provide security to Croatian citizens as well as to its visitors and tourists. The present equippedness level is high and relying on the Croatian industry (personal equipment, IT products, shipbuilding and onstruction industry, and is to introduce the rifles manufactured in Croatia. Croatia is perceived as a safe country, thanks to the joint efforts by the Ministry of\u00a0 the Interior, the Croatian Armed Forces, the Firefighter Service, the Mountain Rescue Service, the medical and related services which have all widely used the equipment\u00a0 made in Croatia.\u00a0\u00a0
The President of the Croatian Chamber of Economy Luka Burilovi\u0107 stated that the Croatian defence industry was a world-renowned brand, supported by the Croatian Chamber of Economy at international weapons and military equipment fairs which achieved excellent business\u00a0 results. The President praised the Ministry of Defence’s co-operation with\u00a0 the Croatian firms and expressed the belief that the Croatian defence industry would remain an important factor of the Croatian economic development.
The Editor-in-Chief of \u201cJutarnji list\u201c Goran Ogurli\u0107 highlighted the objectives and the fact that the HRVCON just sent off to Afghanistan was now also equipped with the Croatia-made rifle as the direct motive to organise the Conference. There is still the capacity for the growth and development\u00a0 of the exports and other defence-related segments\u201c.
The addresses were delivered by Lieutenant General (Ret.) Kre\u0161imir \u0106osi\u0107, the Chairman of the Supervisory Bord of the \u201cAlan\u201c Agency, Ms. Tarja Jaakkola, Deputy Director of European Synergies and Innovation of the EDA, Tim Webb, Head of Capability Delivery Section at Defence Investment at NATO, Paul Friedberg, Deputy Director of SIBAT (the Israel Ministry of Defence’s\u00a0 International Defence Cooperation Directorate), Ivica Neki\u0107, Director of the Agency \u201cAlan\u201c \u017deljko Pavlin of the \u201cHS Produkt\u201c, Alojz \u0160estan of the \u201c\u0160estan-Busch\u201c, Mislav Brli\u0107 of \u201cBrodosplit\u201c and Gordan Kolak, Secretary of the National Security Council.<\/p>\n[nggallery id=2554]\n