Exhibitors from 19 countries at the "DEFCROS 2" Security and Defense Fair

More than 80 exhibitors gathered on Thursday at the 2nd International Security and Defense Fair (DEFCROS 2) in Osijek, where, in addition to numerous presentations of weapons, military and other equipment, investment opportunities in projects from the defense and security sector will be presented.

The envoy of the President of the Republic of Croatia, retired General Marijan Mareković, emphasized at the opening that "security is expensive, but without general security there is no progress, education for the youth, demographic progress, and technological and social development".

“The situation in Europe after the Russian aggression on Ukraine, he added, has changed the previous security paradigms and nothing is the same anymore. That is why such fairs are good so that users of weapons and military equipment can see something new, but also so that manufacturers have feedback from users, so that they can further develop better versions of weapons and equipment,” Mareković assessed.

He said that Croatia's membership in NATO requires us to be more engaged in security terms, which includes not only new weapons, equipment and technology, but also strengthening human resources.

Croatian defense industry a relevant factor in a demanding market

The Prime Minister's Envoy and State Secretary of the Ministry of Defense (MOD) Drago Matanović said that the defense and security industry has certainly gained importance in times of today's global geopolitical picture.

“The level of threats today is very high, so investments in defense and security are necessary, and the Croatian defense industry, with the proven quality of its products, has become a relevant factor in this demanding market,” emphasized Matanović.

“Today we can say that we are totally focused on financial resources, on European defense funds, to try to initiate the start-up defense scene in Croatia. We do not just want to focus on existing companies, which will be strengthened and operated, but we want to encourage young people, educate them, motivate them and show them the way to obtain certain financial resources, so that they can launch a start-up defense scene themselves,” said Kristijan Ilovača, organizer of the fair.

“What was built, especially in the post-Cold War era, has disappeared. Thus the responsibility of states and governments is greater to raise their defense systems, their capacities, and capabilities to the highest possible level,”said General Drago Matanović, State Secretary at the Ministry of Defense.

State Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior Tomislav Bilandžić said that security is a fundamental human need, but security does not happen by chance, but rather requires investment, and experts should deal with it.

Witnessed repeated violations of Polish and EU airspace by Russian drones

Member of the EU Parliament Karlo Ressler (HDZ) recalled that yesterday we witnessed repeated violations of Polish and EU airspace by Russian drones.

“When we see yesterday's situation and Russian provocations, we see that the theses that Europe's efforts to arm itself and ensure that it can defend itself, which were declared as warmongering narratives - are not correct. We must think about the future and be able to defend ourselves, European citizens and the European way of life,” said MEP Ressler.

Representatives of investment funds at the Fair to finance security and defense projects

The main organizer of the International Fair of Security and Defense - DEFCROS 2, Kristijan Ilovača, emphasized that by organizing the event, they wanted to focus on the funds of European defense funds, with the aim of reviving the start-up entrepreneurial scene in the defense and security sector.

“We want to encourage and educate young people and show how to obtain certain financial resources, so that they can start start-up companies in this sector themselves,” said Ilovača.

The organizers announced that in addition to numerous presentations of weapons and equipment used by the army, police and Civil Protection, representatives of several investment funds will also participate in the Fair, who want to examine the market and check how they can invest in future security and defense projects.

Source: HRT