Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš meets with Minister of State for External Affairs of India Shri M. J. Akbar
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- Date: 16.05.2018
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The deepening of the SVK-IND bilateral ties, the promotion of the Slovak defence industry, and military equipment modernisation programmes were high on the agenda of today’s meeting between SVK Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš and Minister of State for External Affairs of India Shri M. J. Akbar at MOD Main Building.
On the defence engagement, Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš said:“One of the areas where we can take the bilateral cooperation between our countries forward is the defence industry. There is an opportunity to promote our domestic defence industry from our position by making it clear that we have products that are of high quality and competitive.”
Head of the MOD went on to say that the exchange of information and expertise on the defence modernisation process is beneficial to both sides. He cited the use of the Training Centre Lešť, the SVK Air Force simulators, and the International Staff Officers Course (ISOC) at the M. R. Štefánik Armed Forces Academy Liptovský Mikuláš as potential areas of cooperation on training and education with the Indian Armed Forces.
Minister Gajdoš informed Minister Akbar of the Long-Term Defence Development Plan with an Outlook to 2030. “The systemic and systematic modernisation of the SVK Armed Forces, delivering modern and well-equipped armed forces, is an important pre-requisite for the Slovak Republic’s ability to respond to the changing security environment,” he said. While noting that Slovakia is committed to increased defence spending, he stressed that its ambition is to reach 1.6 % of GDP on defence by 2020 and 2 % of GDP by 2024.
At the end of the meeting, the Ministers exchanged views on the International Defence Exhibition Bratislava (IDEB) 2018, which is underway these days in Bratislava. Minister Akbar appreciated the quality of the fair as well as the high number of exhibitors and products.
On the defence engagement, Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš said:“One of the areas where we can take the bilateral cooperation between our countries forward is the defence industry. There is an opportunity to promote our domestic defence industry from our position by making it clear that we have products that are of high quality and competitive.”
Head of the MOD went on to say that the exchange of information and expertise on the defence modernisation process is beneficial to both sides. He cited the use of the Training Centre Lešť, the SVK Air Force simulators, and the International Staff Officers Course (ISOC) at the M. R. Štefánik Armed Forces Academy Liptovský Mikuláš as potential areas of cooperation on training and education with the Indian Armed Forces.
Minister Gajdoš informed Minister Akbar of the Long-Term Defence Development Plan with an Outlook to 2030. “The systemic and systematic modernisation of the SVK Armed Forces, delivering modern and well-equipped armed forces, is an important pre-requisite for the Slovak Republic’s ability to respond to the changing security environment,” he said. While noting that Slovakia is committed to increased defence spending, he stressed that its ambition is to reach 1.6 % of GDP on defence by 2020 and 2 % of GDP by 2024.
At the end of the meeting, the Ministers exchanged views on the International Defence Exhibition Bratislava (IDEB) 2018, which is underway these days in Bratislava. Minister Akbar appreciated the quality of the fair as well as the high number of exhibitors and products.
