Opportunities for the Czech defence industries in Finland
27.10.2021 / 17:30 | Aktualizováno: 27.10.2021 / 18:02
On October 27, 2021, the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Helsinki, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic, the Defence and Security Industry Association of the Czech Republic (DSIA) and the Association of Finnish Defence and Aerospace Industries (AFDA), organized a matchmaking event dedicated to Czech companies in the field of defense industry. The signature of a memorandum of understanding between the associations was followed by presentations of 8 Czech companies, introducing themselves to the Finnish partners. In total, almost 40 people participated in the event and about 30 B2B meetings took place.
The project to support the Czech defense industries was implemented in close cooperation with the DSIA, AFDA and the Ministries of Defence of both countries. The management of the associations, which represent approximately 260 Czech and Finnish defence industry companies, has signed a memorandum of understanding, the purpose of which is to strengthen the potential of defense-industrial collaboration through more intensive exchange of information and coordination of activities and events.
During the event, 8 Czech companies presented their portfolio (AGADOS, ERA, EXCALIBUR ARMY, Meopta, SVOS, TATRA, Toner, VOP CZ), followed by presentations of 15 Finnish companies (Conlog Group, DA Group, Environics, Frestems, F-Secure, Huld, Leijona Catering, Mikro-Pulssi, Milectria, Nordic Traction Group, Patria, Savox, Sisu Axles, Teuvan, VTT).
In addition to these companies and representatives of both associations, the Finnish Minister of Defence, Mr. Antti Kaikkonen, delivered his statement virtually during the morning session. The topic of industrial collaboration was addressed in the speeches of Ms. Radka Konderlová, Acting Deputy Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic and Director of the Department for Industrial Cooperation, and Mr. Pasi Pajunen, Deputy Assistant Chief of Logistics of the Finnish Defence Forcess. During the networking lunch, Czech companies had the opportunity to establish closer contacts with AFDA, representatives of the Finnish army responsible for procurements, as well as with representatives of Finnish companies. Later in the afternoon, tens of prearranged B2B meetings took place. After the end of the program, a bilateral meeting took place at the Finnish Ministry of Defence between the Acting Deputy Minister of Defence, Radka Konderlová, and Jarmo Jyväsjärvi, Director General and National Armaments Director.
The main goal of the project was to deepen the existing relations, dialogue and business cooperation in the defence sector between the Czech and Finnish partners at the B2B, B2G and G2G levels. The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Helsinki has been involved in defence industries cooperation for a long time, and today's event followed-up similar projects that took place in Prague in 2018 and in Helsinki in 2019. This third successive event in a row should broaden export opportunities for Czech companies in Finland, along with opportunities for technological, manufacturing and other cooperation, for instance, within joint EU projects.
