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The International Defense Industry Exhibition maintains the status of the largest exhibition of its type in this part of Europe. The trade fairs in Kielce is a great place to promote new technology and new products of the defense industry. What is more, the Minister of Defense, Bogdan Klich pointed out that This year we are meeting in a difficult time for the economies of both Europe and America. In a period when the international economy is struggling with a crisis, a crisis which had an impact also on the defense industry. However, I deeply believe that we are capable of dealing with the crisis quickly and efficiently enough to be able to notice a development in technology and in the defense industry as a whole – stated the Minister in his speech.

Turning to the representatives of the industry, the Minister of Defense said that over the last years the Polish defense industry underwent a deep transformation, not only in its structure and organization, but also in the economic and financial sphere. What is most important is that it gained many foreign partners who guarantee its development. Last year during the opening of MSPO Minister Klich declared that the defense industry will be incorporated in long-term programs which will ensure the modernization and development of the Polish Armed Forces. Continuing his last year’s thought, the Minister of Defense said: at the end of August we finished work on fourteen operative programs and armament programs. At the moment they are being prepared and are waiting for me to endorse them (…) One of the key conditions of these programs is the Polonization of the gained capabilities. The point of this in a broad spectrum is for foreign companies to take part in the development of the Polish defense industry, beginning with bringing in new technology and ending with buying shares in the companies of the Polish defense industry. The Polonization of the acquired gear, armament and the personal equipment for the soldiers is a crucial condition for the participation of foreign companies in those programs. At the end of his speech, Minister Klich wished everybody good and fruitful contracts and exchanges of experience.

The opening of the Exhibition was dignified by, amongst others, Senator Adam Massalski, and General Franciszek Gągor, the Chief of General Staff of the Polish Army. The opening was also attended by lieutenant general Zbigniew Tłok-Kosowski, the Chief of the Inspectorate for Armed Forces Support, lieutenant general Edward Gruszka, the Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of the Land Forces. All participants were welcomed by Andrzej Mochoń, the President of Kielce Trade Fairs: MSPO is an exceptional exhibition which presents products, systems and equipment used in extraordinary circumstances. In such situations as the one we witnessed on the day previous to the opening of the trade fair. The fire in Exhibition Hall F cannot be compared to the dangers which occur on the battlegrounds, of course, but for us, despite the minimal scale of the event in comparison to what the defense units have to deal with, it was like an earthquake. We passed the baptism of fire, with a positive, I hope, outcome said the President of Kielce Trade Fairs, CEO Andrzej Mochoń thanking the exhibitors for their patience and understanding in the context of such a difficult situation.