Rheinmetall AG CEO Armin Papperger Is Visiting us at the initiative of the Bulgarian President to Identify Specific Cooperation Projects with the Bulgarian Defence Industry and Science

 

The challenges facing Europe's security make industrial cooperation and the joint creation of defence technologies and products a necessity. This was stated by the Head of State Rumen Radev at a meeting at the presidential institution with the CEO of the largest defence concern in Europe, Rheinmetall, Armin Papperger, who is visiting us at the initiative of the Bulgarian President to identify specific projects for investment and industrial cooperation with the Bulgarian defence industry and science. The meeting is a continuation of the talks between Rumen Radev and Armin Papperger during the Munich Security Conference in February this year.

 

We need to rethink our own attitude towards our responsibility for ensuring security and towards the approaches to building adequate defence capabilities within the framework of common European defence and NATO, the president stressed. According to him, priority should be given to areas where there is a deficit of capabilities, while strategic military stocks should be replenished as quickly as possible and an industrial base should be built with the continuous introduction of new technologies for the modernisation of our Armed Forces.

 

The head of state stressed that it is high time for EU countries to overcome the strong fragmentation in the European defence industry and to focus on cooperation in the development and production of defence products. Rumen Radev pointed out that Papperger's visit is extremely important against the backdrop of the clearly stated political will for intensive cooperation in the EU in the field of defence and the defence industry and highlighted the opportunities for partnership with the largest European defence concern Rheinmetall, as well as the strategic importance of Germany for Bulgaria as the largest trade and economic partner and leading investor in our country.

 

The Bulgarian military industry has extensive experience and an established place in world markets, emphasized Rumen Radev. The head of state drew attention to the ambitious modernization program of the Bulgarian Army and pointed out that our country is one of the leading European producers of ammunition and light weapons, with Bulgarian companies in the sector constantly expanding the scope of their production in the field of high technologies, which opens up opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation in these areas.

 

During the meeting, the head of state also expressed Bulgaria's interest in expanding its own production capacities in the field of the defence industry with the support of our country's strategic partners, which is in the interest of both national security and improving the economic environment in our country. Increasing the production of gunpowder in our country, including for export, in view of its increased demand in Europe given the complicated security environment, was also among the highlights of the conversation.

 

Armin Papperger expressed Rheinmetall's ambition to build a lasting partnership with Bulgaria and Bulgarian business, highlighting our country's experience in the production of ammunition and weapons. The CEO of the German defence concern also indicated that he hopes for the company's investments in our country to be realised soon.

 

The talks were attended by the Minister of Defence Atanas Zapryanov, the Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov, the Minister of Economy and Industry Petar Dilov, the Deputy Minister of Innovation and Growth Martin Danovski, as well as representatives of the defence industry in our country.