Ľubomír Galko holds talks with Russian partners on cooperation and concludes contract on provision of services

Director General and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Aircraft Repair Company Trenčín (LOTN) Ľubomír Galko brought the conclusion of a contract on provision of constructional and technological support services for general overhauls of Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopters by NCV Mil and Kamov to a successful end. The contract was signed between Russian Helicopters JSC, represented by Director General for After-Sale Service I. V. Chechikov, and Aircraft Repair Company Trenčín JSC, represented by the Company’s Director General and Chairman of the Board of Directors Ľubomír Galko, in Moscow on 6 November 2020, with the participation of representatives of Rosoboronexport JSC, the Federal Service of Military-Technical Cooperation, state-owned enterprise Rostec, and the Slovak Embassy.

The conclusion of the final contract was preceded by nearly two months of intense communications and several rounds of negotiations under strict epidemiological measures both in Slovakia and in Russia despite the ongoing pandemic.

Speaking about the negotiations, Ľubomír Galko said: “This contract is important and it is great that we managed to conclude it in a very short time, but this is not just about the contract we concluded. In fact, we are seeking a completely new quality of cooperation with the Russian side than has been the case so far. Whether that be by getting rid of intermediaries in procuring spare parts or in verifying their originality, which often made the commercial relationship a lot more complicated and overpriced in the past or by ensuring far more transparent communications and clean relations. We discussed these issues openly with our partners from Russia.”

Appreciating the steps by the new Director General of state-run LOTN, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď: “Slovakia has the potential to carry out aircraft repairs as well. Therefore, I am very pleased that my decision to entrust the leadership of the company to Ľubomír Galko has proved to be effective and is bringing good honest fruit by way of transparency.”