25.06.2019.
Partner 2019 Arms and Military Equipment Fair opens
President of the Republic of Serbia and Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces Aleksandar Vučić has attended today the opening of the 9th Fair of Arms and Military Equipment “Partner 2019” in the Hall 4 at the Belgrade Fair. The Opening Ceremony of the most important fair of arms and military equipment in South-Eastern Europe was attended by Zoran Đorđevic, Minister of Labour, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs, Milorad Dodik, President of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and General Milan Mojsilović, Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces.
The Partner 2019 was opened by Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin, who pointed out that before the visitors there is “the defence exhibition whose first and main task is development, economy, but more than anything, its duty is to equip, arm and prepare the Serbian Armed Forces for its mission – for the defence of freedom”.- On behalf of 13 000 workers employed in the Defence Industry of Serbia, I would like to thank the president of the Republic for having firmly believed that the Defence Industry of Serbia has a future, and because, thanks to his confidence and sincere efforts, we exported various products more than 500 million dollars worth, in comparison to the year 2011 when we did it in three times smaller volume. I wish to thank him because he believed in his industry and because he believed in his country and his army, Minister Vulin said.
He added that the Serbian Armed Forces is “proud that it can cooperate with the Defence Industry of Serbia and presents to you the best we have done - it gives the means, equipment, and the brains of our people”.
- There are few peoples like the Serbian people who know what freedom means and who are ready to do everything for freedom. And that is exactly why we know that there is no freedom without a modern, powerful, successful, equipped army. Every nation that appreciates and loves freedom knows that they should appreciate and love their army. Ahead of you, there are our efforts and our minds, and we offer it to you in the hope that you will have something to learn from us, just as we learn from all of you, our dear guests from the world. We give you our knowledge, our weapons, our ammunition, but we cannot give you what made us great – personnel that constitutes the Serbian defence industry, that constitute our army. For that, however, you have to be born among the Serbs, the defence minister said.
Jugoslav Petković, General Manager of |PE Yugoimport SDPR spoke about the anniversary that this company celebrates this year - 70 years of existence.- In these 70 years, the company has undergone many transformations. Today, it is the largest trader and manufacturer of arms and military equipment in this part of Europe. We followed the vision of the then Minister of Defence and First Deputy Prime Minister, and today our President, that only through the jobs creation and the acquisition of new technologies can we create a new value and become competitive on the world market. Then we transferred the vision to the mission, and today I can proudly say that we have accomplished it, Petković said.
At the opening ceremony, those present could see a film about the new achievements of the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Industry of Serbia in the development and production of armament, as well as the film dedicated to the 70th anniversary of PE Yugoimport SDPR.Sponsor of the “Partner 2019” fair is the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, the co-organiser is PE Yugoimport SDPR, and the executive organiser is the Belgrade Fair. A number of 128 exhibitors will take part in the fair, 96 from Serbia and 32 from abroad.
