Publicat pe 15/11/2017

Bucharest, November 15^th, 2017: The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania (CCIR) hosted on Wednesday, November 15^th, 2017, the industrial seminar dedicated to facilitating meetings between French and Romanian companies. The event was organized in partnership with the French Naval Industry Association (GICAN) and the French industrial group NAVAL GROUP (e.g. DCNS), under the patronage of H.E. Mrs. Michèle Ramis, Ambassador of France to Romania.

The President of CCIR, Mr. Mihai Daraban said at the opening of the event: “We are very interested in everything related to the development of defense industry, military procurement and we look forward to seeing how the 2% of GDP allocated for defense will be spent.”

Mr. Mihai Daraban underlined his interest in the involvement of the Romanian industry in this process of modernization of Romania’s military capabilities: “From the beginning, I was a supporter of the technology transfer idea. (…) Regarding today’s seminar theme, I believe that both the Government and the Parliament should pay much more attention, when they reiterate the criteria for participation in the auctions, to the transfer of technology to the Romanian side. This is the most important aspect that Romanian decision-makers need to take into account so that after the completion of this program, the Romanian naval yards will be able to go out on the international market and participate in global auctions for this type of corvette. It is very important to get out of that paradigm of the last place in the EU to research & development, data provided also by Eurostat. We need strong Romanian brands. I hope that what will be done in the military field will help us to achieve the ability to get out on the international market and to impose products made in Romania. (…) The Romanian industry must be involved in this modernization of defense.”

H.E. Mrs. Michèle Ramis, Ambassador of France to Romania, thanked the organizers for the initiative of this seminar and welcomed the presence of 16 French enterprises at the event, members of GICAN. H.E. Ms Ramis also said that: “both countries have sea and river network and have a long industrial tradition and know-how recognized in this sector. On economic terms, I would like to recall the importance of France in the Romanian economy, having direct total investments of over 4 billion Euro, being the fourth foreign investor in Romania. French businesses account for 12% of Romania’s GDP and generate 120,000 jobs. (…) France and Romania have a strategic partnership since 2008. A roadmap for this partnership was updated in June 2016 and the implementation of this partnership is an objective assumed by all its components, particularly in the areas of security and defense. (…) We are glad that Romania has decided to firmly commit itself to this “permanent structured cooperation”, signed in Brussels, on November, 13^th and foreseen in the Treaty of Lisbon.” The Ambassador of France to Romania also mentioned the fact that it is gratifying that Romania has decided to play an active role in the European Defense Fund, a common European security and defense policy that not only involves the development of interoperability but also the ability to intervene together in operations.”

Mr. Ion Radu, State Secretary for Defense in the Ministry of Economy, said that: “there are many communication bridges between Romania and France, as well as success stories. (…) The Black Sea region is extremely complicated lately. We face real dangers that call for diplomatic approaches that do not exclude partner military solutions. (…) New threats have emerged lately, but new opportunities have also emerged. The Romanian industry should adapt and restructure, and even privatize. Together with US and European partners in particular, we have approached new technologies and new solutions in the field of IT & C, cyber security, critical infrastructure, but we must acknowledge that shipbuilding programs are experiencing serious delays. (…) I am convinced that in the discussions that you will have at the level of specialists you will identify those products, projects, systems that will meet the needs of Romania and France, but also of the third markets with a focus on the emerging ones. The Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of National Defense have undergone an extensive process of restructuring and modernization, with the qualitative objectives becoming a priority, so that the tasks entrusted at national and international level are fulfilled in a timely manner. These objectives cannot be achieved without the necessary training and endowment. Here comes the true partnership with industry, industry that has also modernized in line with market demands. We have recently approved in Romania a new legislative framework for the national defense industry, a more modern and appropriate framework for Romanian and regional realities.”

Brigadier General PhD. Ionel Loţan, the Deputy Head of the Department of Armaments of the Ministry of National Defense, stressed that the Romanian army is in a period of modernization “consisting of a comprehensive process of procurement with weapon systems for all categories of forces, since 2017, Romania has allocated 2 percent of GDP for a minimum of 10 years. The plan for the endowment of Romania’s army for the period 2017-2026 includes 8 essential programs and was developed in line with the funds to be allocated. For the Romanian Naval Forces, the main priority is the multifunctional corvette endowment program whose objectives aim at producing four corvettes and integrating the related combat system into a Romanian shipyard, respectively the acquisition of appropriate ammunition.”

Mr. Philippe Missoffe, Director of Industrial Cooperation at Naval Group, presented the Naval Modernization Program for Romania. Mr. Missoffee said that Romania is a trusted partner with qualified people and great potential. In the presentation, he spoke about the characteristics of a naval structure, from the defense system to the platform system, and about the need to integrate the systems, physically and functionally, to ensure the expected performance of the ship.

Mr. Viorel Manole, Executive Director of PATROMIL, said they will continue to support and develop successful partnerships with PATROMIL members, customers and partners, as the Association represents directly or indirectly the interests of over 100 Romanian suppliers specializing in the technical and military production of goods, parts, technologies and services.

Two memorandums were signed between GICAN & PATROMIL and NAVAL GROUP & NAVAL CONSTANŢA SHANGER to collaborate for the transfer of know-how and technology in the development and modernization of the naval structures and for building a robust security profile of Romania.
The event addressed mainly the members of the Romanian Patronal Association of Military Technical Manufacturers Association (PATROMIL), during which opportunities for business and cooperation were identified within the program of endowment of the Romanian Naval Forces. Topics were discussed on how Romania could become a relevant regional pillar with a strong security industry. It was also discussed the need for major investment in research and the opening of cooperation between institutions in the field and state and private companies in Romania to strengthen the defense capability of the country. The seminar ended with bilateral B2B meetings between the participating companies in France and Romania to identify business opportunities.