site.btaDeputy Economy Minister Shtonova Opens AFCEA TechNet 2023 Conference

It is essential to establish a targeted and consistent national policy on the development of industrial cooperation projects within the framework of the contracts for the acquisition of military equipment for the needs of the Bulgarian Armed Forces, said Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry Irina Shtonova on Tuesday at the opening of the annual AFCEA TechNet 2023 conference. The forum focuses on the technological challenges and the place of the Bulgarian Army in collective defence and security, Shtonova’s press centre reported. 

The Deputy Minister stressed that this step will create an opportunity for Bulgarian industry to develop and expand its production capacity and will have a positive effect on the business environment in the country. This will ensure security of supply in the maintenance and repair of the purchased equipment.

In her words, the dynamics and changes in the international security environment pose challenges to the defence capabilities of NATO and EU member states and require the allocation of significant financial resources for investments in key defence capabilities. "The Ministry of Economy and Industry views these developments in a wider context, namely as opportunities that our defence industry must seize in order to expand and modernise production and achieve the desired technological renewal," she added.

Deputy Minister Shtonova encouraged the participants in the conference to be more active and to make the most of the opportunities provided by current NATO and EU programmes and initiatives such as: the DIANA initiative, the NATO Innovation Fund, the European Defence Fund. "The recently adopted Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP) has a budget of EUR 500 million and will offer grants to European companies wishing to set up new production facilities in the field of ammunition and missile systems, as well as to increase or restructure existing production lines," Shtonova said.