On Wednesday 13th September the Czech at pavilion at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) traid fair hosted „CZECH BUSINESS DAY“, a business networking event under which Czech companies from the defence and security industry sector exhibiting on the fair, met with their foreign partners.

The event was launched by the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, Libor Sečka. He stated that “The Czech Republic now already belongs to the 20 most important trading partners - importers to the United Kingdom from the Czech Republic comes 1% of British imports and Britain represents the 4th most significant export market for Czech products and services. The opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation for companies also exist in the security sector and from the presentations and talks of almost 20 Czech firms at the DSEI fair, we can see that these opportunities are very well developed. The global aspect of the DSEI fair is also a huge opportunity for establishing cooperation with other international partners.”

After the welcoming speeches of the representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the London based office of CzechTrade and the Association of the Defence and Security Industry, a networking session between Czech companies and their international partners and interviews with foreign journalists took place.

The Czech firm SVOS Přelouč also presented the international premiere of its armoured fighting vehicle Perun, developed for special sectors and the needs of the military. Its components are certificated according to NATO standards.

Within the official Czech presence arranged by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the following exhibitors from the Czech Republic were presented:

• 4M SYSTEMS, s.r.o. - body armour, bags and backpacks, tactical equipment
• Česká zbrojovka, a.s. - handguns CZ P-07, CZ P-09, CZ 805 BREN, CZ SCORPION EVO 3
• LANEX, a.s. /TENDON - ropes and cords, personal safety systems for working at heights
• MESIT Aerospace, spol. s r.o. - digital intercoms and headsets, aviation instruments
• MESIT Defence, spol. s r.o. - comprehensive VHF programme – handheld transceivers RF40
• MEOPTA, s.r.o. - optical systems for assault rifles
• OMNIPOL - company is licensed for military supplies to 128 countries worldwide
• OPTOKON, a.s. - active and passive components for fibre optics, testers
• SELLIER & BELLOT, a.s. - ammunition for pistols and revolvers, rifles, shotguns and rimfire rifles for hunting and sporting purposes
• SELLIER & BELLOT Trade, a.s. - arms industry, ammunition manufacture
• STV GROUP, a.s. -  foreign trade in military material, destruction of munitions
• Zbrojovka Brno, s.r.o. - CZ 858 TACTICAL semi-automatic rifle

Independently exhibiting at the DSEI were the companies SVOS s.r.o. - armoured fighting vehicles, Ray Services a.s. - electromechanical systems and EVPÚ Defence - monitoring systems and cameras.

The Czech Republic already belongs to the 20 most important trading partners for the UK. The Czech Republic exports 1% of their goods to the UK and is the fourth most significant export market for Czech products and services.

The DSEI fair is one of the most significant international trade fairs in the domain of security and defence technologies. The fair is visited by more than 34 000 participants and 1 600 suppliers from global firms, including ministers of Defence, representatives of military and armed forces, key players in the sector and companies from private sectors. Moreover, within the national pavilions around 42 countries from five different continents were presented. This year’s event was divided into five key areas: aeronautical, terrestrial, naval, security and collective, under which exhibitors introduced their newest equipments and systems. The participation at the fair offers companies a unique opportunity to gain new trade partners and contacts, to expand into a new markets, and also to maintain and deepen the existing trade cooperations.

 

Aleš Opatrný, Economic Diplomat, Embassy of the Czech Republic in London

 

Ambassador Libor Sečka launched Czech Business Day at the DSEI fair 2017

 

World premiere of the vehicle Perun from the firm Svos Přelučka at the DSEI fair in London

 

​Ambassador Libor Sečka viewing the vehicle Perun

 

Vehicle Perun at DSEI in London

 

​The international DSEI fair at ExCel exhibition grounds in London