ZAGREB, February 17, 2020 – The Ministry of Defence on Monday signed procurement agreements with 38 Croatian companies for military equipment and services valued at about €61 million or about €19 million more than in 2019.
The agreements were signed by Minister Damir Krstičević who underscored that Croatian soldiers are entirely equipped with Croatian products and weapons and their participation in international missions and operations serve as an excellent reference in tenders that Croatia applies for on the global markets.
“These agreements represent a significant contribution to Croatia’s economy and show that MORH is not just a consumer but also a generator of development and a promoter of Croatian products,” Krstičević said underscoring that this provides local producers security and can assist them in planning annual production capacities.
Krstičević claimed that the ministry does not buy products produced by Croatia’s military industry simply “because they are ours” but because of their quality and competitiveness.
“We pride ourselves and commend our coast guard boats produced in Brodosplit. After initial difficulties in building the first prototype, which have now been overcome, this year we are launching the construction of the first in a series of patrol ships,” said Krstičević.
The Đuro Đaković company is completing a general overhaul of M-84 tanks. We see potential in that company in the further upgrade of tanks and also in a project to equip the Croatian Army with impressive Bradley armoured vehicles, he said and added that the company has the ministry’s support particularly when it comes to innovations and investing in new technology.
He announced that a second coast guard patrol ship will be handed over on the Croatian Navy Day – 18 September next year and another two ships in 2022 while the fifth and last will be in the navy by 2023.
“The Croatian Army and defence industry are closely connected and mutually dependent. There cannot be a strong Croatian Army without a strong local industry and that always has to be our common goal,” Minister Krstičević said at the signing ceremony.
More news about Croatian military can be found in the Politics section.
