SAPRA - the International Association of Defence Product Manufacturers - participated in a discussion held at Riga Castle, initiated by the President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs, focusing on the role of the defence industry in strengthening national defence capabilities, ensuring supply security and developing industry capacity.
The discussion highlighted the need to enhance national self-sufficiency in military equipment and ammunition, as well as to strengthen cooperation between the public sector, industry and the research community.
Particular attention was given to the pace of technological development, especially in the field of drone and counter-drone solutions, emphasising the importance of flexible and innovation-driven approaches.
Key challenges related to production capacity, competitiveness, workforce availability and the regulatory environment were also addressed, including the need to reduce bureaucracy and improve procurement processes.
The importance of stable and long-term funding was also emphasised to ensure the defence industry’s ability to respond to growing demand and evolving security needs.
The discussion brought together representatives of public institutions, industry organisations, companies, academia and sector experts.