Paris, September 25, 2023 - The Groupement des Industries françaises de Défense et de Sécurité Terrestres et Aéroterrestres (GICAT) has marked a significant step in the strengthening of ties between France and Ukraine by organizing the first Franco-Ukrainian industrial cooperation seminar in Kiev, in collaboration with the Ukrainian Ministry of Strategic Industries, from September 18 to 20, 2023.
This meeting is the fruit of a relationship of trust that the group has been building since mid-July with its Ukrainian partners, supported by the French Embassy in Ukraine. This confidence was confirmed by the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro KULEBA, during his visit to GICAT on August 29, 2023, in the presence of the French industrialists.
Under the patronage of the Ukrainian and French authorities, this bilateral seminar brought together more than 30 French companies specializing in defense and security, alongside some 80 companies and representatives from the Ukrainian defense sector, to discuss topics relating to armored vehicles, artillery, drones and mine clearance.
"Ukraine's goal is to build a leading defense industry and become an arsenal of the free world. Cooperation with international companies and their involvement in the development of our defense industry is one of the key tasks. The event organized with GICAT is an important step in the development of such cooperation between Ukrainian and French defense companies, which will lead to the establishment of long-term partnerships", said Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Strategic Industries, Sergiy BOYEV.
General (2s) Jean-Marc DUQUESNE, GICAT General Delegate, commented that this event illustrated the group's action in support of the French land and air-land defense industry: "This bilateral action enabled us to deepen our relationship with a partner with invaluable expertise, based on the exchange of experience. We hope that this seminar will rapidly lead to long-term cooperation between the companies of our two countries".
This cooperation seminar is part of France's strategy to support Ukraine, demonstrating France's ongoing commitment to helping Ukraine strengthen its defense and security industry.
For further information, please contact :
Delphine SAMPIC | delphine.sampic@gicat.fr | 06 77 34 94 05
Amélie SESCOUSSE | amelie.sescousse@gicat.fr
