A record 51 UK and international companies joined the fifth
UK-Ukraine trade mission in Kyiv this week, making it the largest
British-led trade delegation to Ukraine to date.
Participating companies from across the defence economy
specialising in areas like uncrewed systems and military goods
are securing contracts which will boost high-skilled jobs in
regions across the country, supporting the government's Plan for
Change.
This week's mission brought together leading UK defence firms to
deepen cooperation with Ukrainian industry and partners from
Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland and Latvia. This
collaboration is vital in demonstrating a united multinational
industrial front with European allies, scaling up support for
Ukraine's defence needs and strengthening supply chain resilience
with international partners.
This latest mission is a significant step in the UK's 100 Year
Partnership with Ukraine, reinforcing the UK's long-term support
for Ukraine's defence, security and recovery and drawing on the
collective industrial capacity and capability of European allies.
Defence is a key growth sector in the Government's upcoming
modern Industrial Strategy and a prime example of how Government
and industry can work together to aid our allies and boost UK
security.
, Defence Minister
said:
Working with the Netherlands, Norway, and Ukraine we're building
resilient supply chains, putting Ukraine in the strongest
possible position to achieve a just and lasting peace for years
to come.
The UK is continuing to lead the way on support for Ukraine, from
military support to leading the Ukraine Defence Contact Group
where since the UK took the chair nearly £23bn has been pledged
in military support for Ukraine.
Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS said:
It is a privilege for industry to lead the UK in engagement both
within Ukraine and with our Ukrainian counterparts. Indeed, this
week's trade mission – the most multinational of its kind to date
– has been nothing but inspiring.
The UK defence industry's support to Ukraine is unwavering
and stands ready to increase production capacity, develop
innovative new capabilities, and build a resilient
ecosystem.
Continued collaboration, both with our government counterparts
and international allies, is pivotal as illegal Russian
aggression continues to intensify. We will continue to deepen our
industrial ties and fulfil our moral duty to the Ukrainian
people.
Marte Gerhardsen, Norwegian State Secretary
said:
European allies needs to stand together with Ukraine for as long
as it takes. We work closely with Ukraine the UK and other
European countries. The Russian aggression against Ukraine
continues, and the need to rapidly strengthen Ukrainian and
European defence capabilities are apparent.
The security situation demands that we innovate and adapt. We
need to ensure that our industries can meet the growing demands
from our governments and armed forces.
One of the purposes of the visit is to facilitate the
establishment of projects and collaborations by more Norwegian
companies in Ukraine. I am pleased to see how Norwegian companies
work with Ukrainian partners to scale up productions.
The mission follows the new UK-EU Security & Defence
Partnership that was agreed on Monday, which could lead to
significant opportunities for the UK's world-leading defence
industries, generating more high-skilled jobs across all regions
of the UK.
By joining forces with our European partners, the UK is
strengthening its own defence industry while contributing
directly to Ukraine's long-term resilience.
Background:
- JEF nations represented on this mission include: Norway,
Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, and Latvia
- DBT and MOD working closely together through the
cross-government Task Force HIRST to drive increases in UK,
Ukrainian and allies' industrial capacity to support the Armed
Forces of Ukraine, as well as domestic military resilience. It
has recently secured a £1.6bn deal for air defence missiles for
Ukraine.
- The UK is fully committed to working with allies to step up
support to ensure Ukraine remains in the strongest possible
position, which is why £4.5 billion of military support will be
provided this year – more than ever before.
- Defence already supports 434,000 jobs and is an engine for
growth. The Government's new Defence Industrial Strategy
will make sure national security and a high-growth economy are
aligned and delivering on our promise to crack down on waste and
boost Britain's defence industry.
- This week's mission builds on the Joint Expeditionary Force
(JEF) Oslo Summit held earlier this month, highlighting the UK's
growing cooperation with European partners on defence and
security.
