Nicusor Dan: In Europe, we need to grow defense industry at an accelerated pace

President Nicusor Dan stated on Monday that the defense industry needs to be grown in Europe at an accelerated pace, given the current context. He took part in the AHK Conference: Cooperation in the Defense Industry between Romania and Germany."Germany is the main foreign investor in Romania, 17 billion euros, 235,000 Romanians who are employed in German companies. A few examples - 20,000 at Aumovio, 10,000 at Bosch and so on, in areas of expertise, electronics, microelectronics, precision components, including, and this is very important - in the area of research and innovation. Now we are in a context that we did not want, but we are forced to grow the defense industry in Europe at an accelerated pace and this necessity may represent an opportunity for our economy and for the collaboration between Romania and Germany," the head of state said.The president mentioned Rheinmetall's investment in the powder factory in Brasov County. "This investment will require local supply chains and will lead to a transfer of technology and know-how to the Romanian market," he highlighted."I believe that Romania has all the data to become a hub of innovation and production in the defense industry area in Southeast Europe. Why? First of all, because it has a tradition. This means that there are people, even if our companies, which come from an era when Romania produced and exported a lot, (...) at the moment, perhaps, they are not in the happiest situation, nevertheless they have people who still have expertise that can be used and, as I said earlier, those 235,000 people prove that in Romania we have people qualified for what is needed for the defense industry. That is history," added the head of state.According to him, the defense industry requires more and more technology, and "Romania is doing quite well.""All the necessary investments in new facilities - there is no need to start from scratch. All those companies in communist Romania have all the utilities and all the geographical, protective conditions that they need to start from some conditions that are already met. So, we have an opportunity for collaboration and that is why I am glad that this event is taking place, in conditions where know-how, an investment and a new approach can very quickly revitalize the opportunities of the Romanian defense industry. And we also have the money, the SAFE Program and all that will follow will stimulate this type of production," explained Nicusor Dan.  (Photo:https://www.presidency.ro/)