“Ukrainian Defense & Security Forum ‘16” will be held on February 18, 2016 in InterContinantal Kyiv hotel under the patronage of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and State Concern “UKROBORONPROM”. Forum will become the first and the largest global platform in Ukraine focusing on investment opportunities of local defense and security market bringing together representatives of Ukrainian manufacturers and international investors.

Stepan Poltorak, Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Aivaras Abramavicius, Minister of Ecomonic Development and Trade of Ukraine, Roman Romanov, General Director of SC “UKROBORONPROM”, Ernest Herold, Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Defense Investment, NATO, Aleksander Vinnikov, Director of NATO Liaison Office in Ukraine, Volodymyr Horbulin, Director of the National Institute for Strategic Studies of Ukraine, Oleh Batiuk, Managind Partner of “Dentons”, Mykhailo Gvozdov, President of SP “Antonov”, Serhiy Popov, Partner of KPMG Ukraine, etc. will participate in the Forum.

Davit Tevzadze, Minister of Defense of Georgia (1998-2004) will share successful experience of revamping defense-industrial cooperation as well as defense and security reforms in the Republic of Georgia.

The event will be attended by managers of TOP-100 Ukrainian and international defense and security companies, Ukrainian defense-industrial manufacturers, international investors, representatives of international financial corporations and foreign embassies. 250 top managers from 20 countries around the world have already confirmed their participation, including Boeing, Airbus, Thales International, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft Corp., PCO SA, Sagem Défense Sécurité, Elbit Systems, Caterpillar Inc., Renault Trucks Defense, Honeywell Defense and Space Int., Orbital ATK, STC Delta, etc.

Forum seeks to draw attention of international business to the potential of defense and security market of Ukraine and attract foreign investments to the sector. Representatives of government, international organizations and Ukrainian enterprises will participate in open public discussion on transitioning towards a new level of development of Ukrainian defense and security market. Ukrainian business will receive extensive information about cooperation opportunities with state defense and security enterprises, securing funding from national and international financial institutions. One-to-one meetings between investors and representatives of Ukrainian companies on the second day of the Forum will become the feature of the event.

“Together with foreign experts and advisers of the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces of Ukraine the main guidelines on reforming the Ministry and General Staff according to the NATO standards were developed. The roadmap to implement these reforms was prepared. For today Ukraine has an efficient army which is much stronger in terms of its strength and capabilities than at the beginning of the battle with the aggressor” – stated Stepan Poltorak, Minister of Defense of Ukraine.

“UKROBORONPROM” took up an ambitious task of fully equipping Ukrainian Army with modern weaponry and military inventory. Eighty thousands of Concern employees consolidated their efforts for the sake of Ukraine’s protection and strengthening. Today the whole world is watching the revival of our defense industry, which has become one of the major shields of peace” – said Roman Romanov, General Director of SC “UKROBORONPROM”.

Forum will be held under the patronage of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and SC “UKROBORONPROM”. Organizer of the Forum – A7 CONFERENCES. Exclusive Legal Partner – Dentons. Innovation Partner – Microsoft Ukraine. Exhibition Partners – ICIPS and Housing Estate “Orange Park”. General Media-Partner – Economic Pravda, General TV-Partner – 5 Channel, General Informational Partner – Interfax-Ukraine, General Specialized Media-Pratner – Defense Express. Exclusive Media-Partner – “Business” newspaper, Business TV-Partner – First Business Channel, among the media-partners are also – Persha Shpalta, Apostrophe, Companion, DELO.ua, KyivPost, Ukrainian Week, Milnavigator, Defense Studio, Industry in Focus, Military Informant, Defence Blog. Aviation Partner – AirLife.

Participation for investors (with more than $100M portfolio) is free of charge. For the C-suite representatives of the companies from defense and security sector – registration fee is 950 UAH (limited places available, after online registration and confirmation).

Online registration is open until February 16, 2016 at the web site: a7conf.com/defense

For media accreditation please contact Oksana Kadochnikova, Public Relations Manager, A7 CONFERENCES via tel.: +38 044 227 27 77, +38 068 120 53 35, or е-mail: oksana@a7-group.com