Agreement signed on the construction of a small-caliber ammunition factory in Croatia

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed at the Government office between the Government, Beretta Holding, and a financial investor, which would enable the construction of a small-caliber ammunition factory in Croatia.

The agreement was signed by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Ivan Anušić, the President and CEO of Beretta Holding Group Pietro Gussalli Beretta, and financial investor Ivan Kapetanović.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković stated before the signing that the memorandum had been in the works for more than a year, emphasizing that this is the first step toward building the ammunition factory in Obrovac.

"Beretta Holding is a family-owned company from Italy, but it is essentially a global company with 500 years of continuity and tradition in the weapons manufacturing industry. That is why this agreement essentially begins a long-term strategic partnership between Croatia and Beretta Holding," Plenković said, adding that this is part of a broader context of investing in the defense industry.

"Based on the memorandum of understanding, Croatia's security, its industry, exports, and technological development are further strengthened," he said.

“A reputable partner was selected for the mentioned project,” he said, recalling that Beretta helped Croatia during the Homeland War.

"We do not forget this and we appreciate it, and now a new dimension of continuing that cooperation gets a completely different context of an independent, free Croatia, which won the Homeland War and which is a member of the North Atlantic Alliance, the EU, Schengen, and the Eurozone, and tomorrow the OECD," Plenković pointed out.

He stated that it is extremely important that the "defense industry ecosystem will be enriched by a partnership like we have never had before." He mentioned, however, that a major breakthrough was also recently made by DOK-ING, which attracted Germany's Rheinmetall.

"This project will be a partnership that will further strengthen investments in Zadar County," Plenković emphasized, adding that this region will also receive new investment and jobs, meaning an opportunity to develop in a completely different way.

He announced work on further phases of the project, but did not say when the ammunition factory could start being built or when it should be completed.

The CEO of Beretta Holding Group, Pietro Gussalli Beretta, said that this is a long-term investment. His family, he pointed out, believes in these types of investments, adding that the commitment to the project they will do in Croatia is not an investment to meet temporary needs.

Beretta thanked the Government for its support of the project, emphasizing that he hopes the signing of the agreement is the starting point of the investment. He said it is an investment that will benefit both the European and global markets, and that his company will do its best to provide maximum support to the project.

Source: HRT