Wiadomości
Today, on 7 September, the 29th International Defence Industry Exhibition was officially opened. The President of Kielce Fair, Dr Andrzej Mochoń, welcomed the most important guests, including Mariusz Błaszczak, the Minister of Defence, and Paweł Soloch, the Head of the National Security Bureau. He emphasized that President Andrzej Duda, the Supreme Head of the Armed Forces, would also appear at the Show in the afternoon.
15 official foreign delegations have announced their visits to the 29th MSPO. National pavilions were organised by six countries: Spain, Germany, UK, Ukraine, USA, and Italy. This is also another year of display by the Polish Armed Forces. Andrzej Mochoń reminded that their display was first seen in 1999, the year of Poland’s entry into NATO. The president of Kielce Fair thanked all military commanders who contributed to the creation of these exhibitions in subsequent years.
MSPO promotes international cooperation in security, and in recent years also in cyberspace protection. Kielce Fair also increases the range of events organised. The POLSECURE fair will be held for the first time at the premises on 15–17 November.
Dr Mochoń reminded that last year, when the pandemic was still unpredictable in many respects, MSPO organisation succeeded under very difficult conditions. 188 companies from five countries participated. This year, which is also very difficult, there are 401 exhibitors representing 27 countries. Missing altogether are companies from some countries, including Australia, from where a dozen or so recipients were expected, but they were stopped by COVID-related regulations.
This year, an entire hall was taken over by the companies of the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ). PGZ has also signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Kielce Fair for the coming years. Exhibitions of scientific institutes and universities have also appeared. Andrzej Mochoń announced that many conferences, which have always accompanied the fair, will be held during the MSPO.
‘Our fair is safe. We have recorded no cases of COVID after last year’s events. I am sure this will also be the case this year’, said Andrzej Mochoń.
Next year will see a jubilee: the 30th MSPO. ‘I hope it will be much more open than the present one. Also for a broader audience’, announced the president of Kielce Fair.
Andrzej Mochoń’s words were confirmed by Bogdan Wenta, the Mayor of Kielce. He noted that MSPO is a great meeting place for people from the arms industry. And he reminded that last year’s show turned out to be the only defence industry trade fair in Europe. ‘A success of MSPO is also a success of Kielce. I invite everyone to visit our city. It is worth seeing how it has changed in recent years’, said Wenta.
Paweł Soloch, the head of the National Security Bureau, delivered the letter from Poland’s President, who expressed his thanks to all those who decided to participate in the Exhibition despite the difficult times and who emphasized the role of a feeling of security in the contemporary world. He also noticed the important role of the Ministry of National Defence and the important mission of modernising the Polish Army.
Zbigniew Koniusz, the Governor of the Świętokrzyskie Province, delivered a letter from Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, in whose opinionthe Exhibition is an important place of international promotion of the Polish defence industry. The Prime Minister emphasized that the global format of the MSPO provided a great opportunity to promote Polish enterprises. ‘The defence industry is a safeguard of security and a driving force for the economy’ he emphasized.
Sebastian Chwałek, the PGZ president, delivered a letter from Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński. In the letter, the Deputy PM for Security expressed his satisfaction at the organisation of the show at such a high level. ‘This has been possible thanks to the cooperation of many institutions. The Exhibition will contribute to the modernisation of the Polish Army’ he said.
Minister Mariusz Błaszczak appreciated the MSPO highly. ‘It is a strong Polish brand. This is a very important event for the defence industry (…). We live in difficult times, in dangerous times. (…) Poland is arming because there is the need to. In 2014, the Ministry of National Defence spent 8.5 billion zlotys on armament purchases, and in 2020 the figure was already more than 17.5 billion US dollars. We are taking further steps to increase financing of military purchases. In the autumn we will present a new model for it’, added the minister.
In concluding, Mariusz Błaszczak announced the traditional opening of the MSPO. The exhibition will continue until 10 August 2021.
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