II Ukrainian-Polish Defence Industries Cooperation Forum

II Ukrainian-Polish Defence Industries Cooperation Forum

The second Ukrainian-Polish Defence Industries Cooperation Forum was held on 14-15 November 2013 in Kiev, at the initiative of the Polish Industrial Lobby (PLP), the Euro-Atlantic Association (SEA), the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Ukraine and Ukroboronopromu.

The first forum took place on 27 May 2013 in Warsaw and created the basis for new relations. The conference, which was led by MajGen Leszek Cwojdziński, Chief of Inspectorate of Implementation of Innovative Defence Technologies, representing the Polish side, and Igor Odnorałow, Director of the Department of Purchasing Armaments and Military Technology of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, representing the Ukrainian side, was attended by numerous representatives of Polish and Ukrainian defence companies.
Janusz Onyszkiewicz (Chairman of the SEA Executive Council) and Paul Soroka (PLP Coordinator) were accompanied in Kiev by representatives of the Polish Defence Industry and experts dealing with issues of defence. The two-day session, which was combined with visits to Ukrainian enterprises, was dominated by issues concerning creating the most effective forms of cooperation.
Five Working Groups were established, under which cooperation will be continued. The creation of the Helicopter Group, along with Air, Armoured, Air Defence and Armaments Disposal Groups – is the result of analysis of our capabilities and needs. The forum gave a positive answer to the question concerning the future of our relations in this sector.
On the second day, support was given for the creation of an information office of the Ukrainian-Polish Defence Industries Cooperation Forum. Its mission will be to provide assistance and coordination as needed.