MSPO – in the heart of the world’s defence industry

MSPO – in the heart of the world’s defence industry
Defence Industry Exhibition culminates in success

From 1st to 4th September Targi Kielce was the stage for the International Defence Industry Exhibition. The expo has broken its own records. The 23rd edition, with the exhibition space of over 27, 000 square meters was the showcase for 568 exhibitors from 30 countries; the 2015’s MSPO will certainly make an indelible imprint in the Kielce exhibition and congress centre’s history.
The event gained extra splendour owing to the presence of the Republic of Poland’s President and official foreign delegations from 58 countries. MSPO was complemented with the 21st International Logistics Fair LOGISTYKA Almost 20,000 visitors attended all the exhibition.

MSPO comes third in Europe’s military exhibition rankings, just after Paris and London. MSPO exhibitors – the leading defense industry companies demonstrate the expo’s prestige. This year’s exhibitors list has included the largest international defence companies, and among them: LOCKHEED MARTIN, BOEING, BAE SYSTEMS, RAYTHEON, GENERAL DYNAMICS, FINMECCANICA, THALES, MBDA.
– We have been a part of MSPO for many years; it has been a real pleasure to observe the exhibition development and advancement. We feel honoured to be a part and a partner of this undertaking. The interest our products generate results in trade cooperation; this makes us really glad. What is particularly important for us is the fact that MSPO provides the opportunity to meet Polish partners and the cooperating companies. This may give rise to joint projects, these in the future may translate into new job-openings and further development of technologies transferred to Poland – said John Neilson, Director of Communications at Lockheed Martin Corporation .

MSPO hosts the President of the Republic of Poland
The President of the Republic of Poland paid a visit to this year’s defense industry expo. During his visit to Targi Kielce President Andrzej Duda also bestowed his award for the best product which serves the purpose of the RP Armed Forces soldiers’ safety enhancement is The President in his speech referred to defense industry development and highlighted the role of MSPO for the sector.
– The defence sector is the economy branch of utmost importance. Polish defense industry faces the opportunity for a revival, we have a chance to derive from our best traditions. I would like to congratulate Targi Kielce President of Board Mr Andrzej Mochoń; the expo is an immense success which makes me personally proud. Both the infrastructure level, expo preparation as well as the products on display I have had the chance to see are a source of considerable optimism and pride –
said President Andrzej Duda.

Scandinavian accent
The MSPO’s tradition is to include Lead Nations’ Exhibitions. These Exhibitions have been a part of the Expo since 2004. Until now Germany, France, Israel, the USA, Sweden, the V4 Group Countries, Great Britain, Italy and Turkey have presented their military potentials. The MSPO 2015 featured the Lead Nation Exhibition of Norway , this was the showcase for over a dozen of Norwegian companies.
Lady Minister made a speech at the MSPO opening ceremony – Norwegian Minister of Defence stressed the importance of bilateral cooperation between Poland and Norway and also the International Defence Industry Exhibition’s significance.
– Relations between our countries have continued to develop. Today’s reality requires the strong cooperation between the NATO countries. Today we have the opportunity to present the offer of several Norwegian defense sector
companies and discuss future projects. MSPO is one of the world’s most important industry events, a great place to show our offer. It is great honour for me to attend the event which demonstrated a great and always-growing potentials –
said Ine Eriksen Soereide.
The meeting held under the banner of „Poland and Norway strong partnership in terms of defense, industry and technology: Past, present, future”. organised by Norwegian Ministry of Defence enjoyed an avid interest among the expo guests. The session was chaired by Norway’s Deputy Minister of Defence Mr Øystein Bo.

Save the date for September
A number of lucrative contracts were signed during this year’s edition of Kielce defense industry expo. Important agreements were concluded by, inter alia, Polish Armaments Group’s companies; many of them with international partners like Saab and Boeing. Cooperation sealed at the Targi Kielce’s expo means much more than business – this is a herald of a lasting partnership and participation in research & development.
Turkish companies have also marked their strong presence at the MSPO; Roketsan signed a cooperation agreement with Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze [Military Aviation Works] from Lodz and with Mesko. The Skarżysko-based company has also announced joint-undertakings with Turkish TAI and the US – ORBITAK ATK.
On the second exhibition day the Press Office hosted the conference on the Polish – Ukrainian cooperation agreement between LUBAWA SA and Ukroboronprom defence concern.

Talks without limits
For the time of MSPO the Targi Kielce Congress Centre was filled to its capacity; it hosted most prominent business insiders. The Expo programme encompassed almost 40 seminars and congresses; they provide an ideal opportunity to exchange experiences, to expand knowledge about the latest military technology solutions, to establish contacts and relations as well as to hold talks between the defense industry, the armed forces and government administration.
This year’s meetings held during MSPO largely raise the most topical issue for the military world – information technologies. ICT solutions had thus become one of expo leading topics. IBM Poland held the „Cyber attacks – advanced protection systems” conference. There was also a session on IT solutions and services for the sector of defence.
The exhibition programme also encompassed scientific conference „Poland’s defense industry consolidation and the competitive European armaments market” as well as „Doing business with the army – a safe way to earn money conference complemented with the Rzeczypospolia’s debate on „Before a big leap. Polish defense industry during the army technical modernization programme implementation. Experiences – opportunities – international cooperation”, not to mention a few dozens of other conferences and press briefings.

Expo with media attention
Not only did this year’s event attract the all-times record number of visitors to the Kielce exhibition and congress centre; there were also hundreds of media representatives. The Targi Kielce Press Office accredited 564 journalists, press photographers and television crews. The list included representatives of TVP, TVN, Polsat, TVN 24, Polsat News, Rzeczpospolita daily, Dziennik Gazeta Prawna daily, Gazeta Wyborcza daily, Puls Biznesu, Polish Radio, Wprost, Newsweek, and the Polish Press Agency, Reuters Information Agency. The event also attracted the attention of foreign media –
12 countries such as the UK, Ukraine, USA, United Arab Emirates, Czech Republic, Germany, Norway, Hungary, Greece, Belgium, Slovakia and France had their media representations.

Monika Kowalczyk
Promotion Officer
Targi Kielce S.A.