Amb. Paez with CDR Wojciech Sobocinski-Polish Navy Modernization Programme Team Leader of Naval Shipyard S.A.

President of the Board of Targi Kielce Mr. Andrzej Mochon

   The Philippine Embassy in Warsaw met wiith the representatives of several defense companies during the 2015 Targi Kielce which is Europe’s 3rd largest military exhibition/trade fair in Europe, next only to similar events in Paris and in London. The 2015 Targi Kielce, specifically the 23rd International Defense Industry Exhibition MSPO and the 21st International Logistics Fair LOGYSTIKA  was held from 01 to 05 September 2015 in Kielce, Poland with Norway as the Lead Nation. 

   Philippine envoy to Poland Ambassador Patricia Ann V. Paez attended the event’s opening ceremony and met with representatives of various defense companies whose products are relevant to the Philippines’ requirements towards achieving a “minimum credible deterrence” capability and modernizing the capabilities of its military and police forces.

   The President of the Board of Targi Kielce Mr. Andrzej Mochon said: “This year’s edition is held when the world has been facing the most serious security crisis since the end of the Cold War - the conflict in Ukraine, the growing power of the Islamic State, quasi-martial law on the border between Nortn and South Korea - this is only part of today’s political and military situation.”

   In her brief remarks, the Defense Minister of Norway Ms. Ine Marie Erikson Soereide emphasized the need to revitalize NATO and to strengthen the trans-Atlantic alliance. She said that new threats in the region require changes in the NATO and that adapting the alliance to new challenges should be the key topic of the 2016  NATO Summit to be held in Warsaw, Poland, Minister Soereide noted that “Russia has shown the will and ability to use military force to achieve its strategic goals.” She added that “the instability in Syria and Iraq affects Europe” and that Europe should “respond to Russia’s action and to emerging threats.” She stressed that Norway’s commitment to Article 5 of the NATO charter is “unwavering.” She cited the joint military exercise between Norway and Poland called “Noble Jump” and urged for imcreased defense industry cooperation.

   Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Tomasz Siemoniak welcomed the delegates to Targi Kielce and said that Poland and Norway share similar views about the security situation.

   Polish Foreign Minister Grzegorz Schetyna stressed Poland’s is commitment to Article 5. He also said that there is strong cooperation between Poland’s Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs in promoting Polish defense industries.

   In a briefing given by Mr. Wojciech Dabrowski - President of the Management Board of Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa’s (PGZ), he said that the PGZ iembodies the consolidation of Poland’s armaments industry. The PGZ is a holding company established by the Polish government to unite 60 Polish state-owned defence industry companies. It has an annual turnover of 5 billion zlotys and 17,500 employees. Mr. Dabrowski outlined PGZ’s strategy from 2015 to 2030 and stressed that its main objective, “at this stage,” is “to integrate PGZ business-wise” towards elevating it among the Top 10 of the world’s defense industries. Its objectives are: to create technologies of the future, ensure modern solutions for defense, increase PGZ’s turnover to 12 billion zlotys, achieve 6 billion zlotys in exports and non-defense sales, create at least 105 new products to include cybertechnologies. and help build Poland’s economy.

    In the same briefing, Minister of Foreign Affairs Grzegorz Schetyna said that Poland’s foreign and defense ministries work closely together to increase Polish defense exports and will work with the Ministry of the Treasury in developing Poland’s version of the US’ FMS (Foreign Military Sales) which is a credit window open to foreign governments. For the technical modernization of Poland’s armed forces, 130  billion zlotys have been earmarked for the years 2014 to 2022

Ambassador Paez with mr. Andrzej Wozniak – Defense and Security Systems Marketing and Sales Department Secretariat of PIAP

Ambassador Paez with Mr. Frak Moller – Executive Vice President of the Missile Products Division of Nammo

Ambassador Paez with Mr. Morten Brantzag – CEO of Nammo, on the left is Ms. Damian Oabara – Liaison Officer for the Philippines of Targi Kielce

Wide array of high powered firearms

Ambasador Paez with Mr. Andrzej Kiercz – Deputy Trade Fairs Director of Targi Kilece

Ambassador Paez with Ms. Ewa Szulz (left) of the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP)

Military hardware from Ukraine