The Embassy of the Czech Republic in New Delhi provided the participants with a number of activities, which were secured with the support of Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic. The main pillar of the program was participation in the Aero India 2021 show, the most important military aviation event in South Asia, but at present probably also on a larger scale. An exhibition stand was secured for the Czech participants of the mission, with state-of-the-art design, which was carefully prepared for Czech exhibitors together with the foreign offices of CzechTrade in Mumbai and Bengaluru, who actively participated not only in the preparations, but also in the actual implementation.

 

 

In parallel with the physical exposition, Czech companies were also given the opportunity to present themselves at a virtual fair, which was used by 5 Czech companies for presenting their products at a virtual stand, while another 1 virtual booth was created jointly by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Delhi, Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic and CzechTrade.

Another activity provided for the participants of the mission was a networking buffet dinner, during which the delegates were given printed catalogs of the mission, designed especially for the purpose of introducing themselves during the meetings. In addition to the printed catalogue, the companies also presented themselves in a virtual catalog on the fair's website.

In terms of meetings, this year's Aero India 2021 has been overwhelming. Ambassador M. Hovorka discussed a number of issues in the field of aviation and defence cooperation between the two countries with heads of all major armed forces - Bipin Rawat (Chief of Defence Staff), Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadaurya (Chief of Air Staff), and admiral Karambir Singh (Chief of the Naval Staff). Another important meeting at which companies had the opportunity to present themselves was the one with the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Manoj Mukund Naravane.

 

 

Important meetings were also arranged with the Secretary Defence, Ajay Kumar, and also with Secretary Defence Production, Ministry of Defence of India, Mr. Raj Kumar. On Thursday, February 4, the delegation was also received by the Chairman of the DRDO and Secretary, Department of Defence, R & D, Dr. Satheesh Reddy. Here, the Indian side presented a proposal for further cooperation and set out a follow-up, which the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Delhi, in cooperation with the entities concerned on the Czech side, will prepare.

In terms of corporate cooperation, the meeting at the Public sector enterprise BEML was extremely important, because BEML cooperates with the Czech company Tatra Trucks a.s., on the supply of trucks for the Indian Armed Forces.

Another important meeting directly with the manufacturers took place at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a state and major Indian manufacturer in both the aviation and space industry. Additionaly, delegation also met with Siddharth Mishra at Bharat Dynamics Ltd., a major manufacturer of missiles, and other ammunition or with the Director General & Chairman of the largest state ordnance company Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), Mr. Hara Mohan.

 

 

The delegation from the Czech Republic comprised of such companies as the Czech Aviation Training Center, Eldis s.r.o., Omnipol, PBS Group, TATRA Trucks a.s. or the sector associations of companies like the Defence and Security Industry Association and the Moravian Aerospace Cluster. However, other Czech companies also took part in the virtual exhibition, such as the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Association of the Czech Republic or via the catalogue presentation like the Aircraft Industries. Separately, the company Primoco UAV presented itself at Aero India 2021, when their large model of drone beautified the significant exposition of the Indian giant BEML. The Czech footprint was thus one of the largest at the fair, in the wake of other giants of the defence-aviation industry.

 

Milan Dostál, Economic Diplomat, Embassy of the Czech Republic in Delhi