International Armament and Military Equipment Exhibition PARTNER 2025 officially opens
The Minister of Defence, Bratislav Gasic, officially opened the 12th International Exhibition of Armaments and Defence Equipment “PARTNER 2025” today at the Belgrade Fair, in the presence of Prime Minister Djuro Macut and Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, General Milan Mojsilovic.
The opening ceremony was attended by the Minister of Defence of Cyprus, Vasilis Palmas, Commander of the Royal Saudi Land Forces, Lieutenant General Fahd Al-Juhani, numerous foreign delegations, senior officials from the Ministry of Defence and the General Staff, representatives of the diplomatic and military-diplomatic corps, the management of Yugoimport-SDPR, companies from the Serbian Defence Industry, as well as numerous exhibitors participating in this year’s exhibition.
Minister Gašić said he was honoured to officially open, on behalf of the Republic of Serbia, the 12th International Armament and Military Equipment Exhibition Partner 2025, an event that has earned recognition throughout Europe and globally as a place where knowledge, innovation, and experience in the field of defence technologies meet.
- Around 200 exhibitors from more than 30 countries, a record number to date, testifies to the growing interest in this event and its popularity. The exhibition space has been expanded by as much as 30 percent compared to last year, and this year’s exhibition will showcase the largest number of innovations from the Serbian defence industry to date - said the Minister of Defence.
He emphasized that Serbia is a country with a rich defence industrial tradition dating back nearly two centuries, and at the same time, a country focused on the future.
- Our commitment to preserving peace, independence, and the security of our citizens relies primarily on our own knowledge and resources. That is precisely why we continue to follow the idea promoted more than a decade ago by the President and Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces, Aleksandar Vučić, the idea that whatever we do in the field of armament and military equipment development should be aimed at the technological advancement of the Serbian Armed Forces. The goal is to ensure that, in the face of modern security challenges, our armed forces are fully prepared to respond effectively to any potential threat to the territorial integrity and independence of our country – Minister Gašić emphasized.
Continuing his address, the Minister of Defence underscored the significant progress our country has made in the defence industry in recent years. He said that today, we can proudly say that our experts are developing and producing weapons and military equipment that meet the needs of the Serbian Armed Forces, but also attract attention of even the most discerning international buyers.
- Partner 2025 is an opportunity for us to showcase that progress. Visitors and potential clients will have the opportunity to see some of the most modern combat platforms, UAVs, and sophisticated communication and logistics systems developed and manufactured by the Military Technical Institute personnel and the Serbian defence industry factories. Our defence industry is growing, modernizing, and creating new jobs. It is proof that investing in defence means investing in economy, education, science, and technology, all of which contribute to the overall development of the society – said the Minister of Defence.
At the opening ceremony, Prime Minister Đuro Macut also addressed the audience, emphasizing the huge importance of defence industry for Serbia’s overall economy. He emphasized that the momentum this sector has gained in recent years has placed Serbia back on the map of global manufacturers of weapons and military equipment.
- The Partner defence exhibition is an opportunity to present, above all to the expert public, everything that the Serbian defence industry has achieved in recent period. A large number of foreign exhibitors have placed their trust in this event, recognizing its openness and potential for connecting and establishing cooperation. This stands as acknowledgment of both the Ministry of Defence and the Republic of Serbia, whose foreign policy serves as an example of openness and consistency – said the Prime Minister of Serbia, extending congratulations, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, to the exhibition organizers.
He thanked exhibitors and high-level foreign delegations participating in the exhibition, expressing confidence that meetings held over the next four days will open many doors for establishing effective, long-term cooperation in the field of defence technology. In conclusion, Prime Minister Macut commended the representatives of domestic defence industry, recognizing them as a pillar of both economic stability and security.
After the opening ceremony, Minister Gašić, accompanied by Prime Minister Macut and General Mojsilović, toured the exhibition at the Belgrade Fair, visiting both domestic and international company stands. They were joined by Nenad Miloradović, Ph.D., Assistant Minister of Defence for Material Resources. They also inspected the modernized River Flotilla vessels, which are, for the first time, moored on the Sava River, as part of the Partner 2025 exhibition.
PARTNER is the largest and most significant defence exhibition in the region, providing an opportunity over four days for numerous domestic and international manufacturers to showcase their products. This year’s event is organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, and co-organized by Yugoimport-SDPR, with technical support provided by the Belgrade Fair.
