Emmanuel Macron will gather defense industrialists at the Elysee Palace on Tuesday to take stock of the transition to a “war economy”, which he calls for, and encourage them to take “greater risks”, particularly in arms exports. The Head of State will receive nine big bosses at the beginning of the afternoon, including Nicolas Chamussy (Nexter), Eric Trappier (Dassault Aviation), Pierre-Eric Pommellet (Naval Group), Patrice Caine (Thales) and Guillaume Faury (Airbus), the presidency announced to reporters on Monday.
Given the conflict led by Russia in Ukraine and the need to send more and more weapons to Kiev, the president advocated in June for moving to a “war economy”, that is, allowing the defense industry to reactivate. Objective: to produce more and more quickly, also to prepare the French army in the event of a major conflict.
Continuation of State investments in national programs
Since then, several meetings with manufacturers have been held with the Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu. This time it is the head of state who meets with them to ensure that they continue with their “cultural change”, according to an adviser. “Le président évidemment confirmer aux industriels que l’Etat va poursuivre cet défense effort et donc on va continuer à investir dans des programmes nationaux”, ce qui leur garantit une “visibilité s’agissant des commandes nationales”, at- he explains .
On the part of the State, this means “a greater assumption of risks”, which will expedite its procedures and reduce its specifications to “obtain more, cheaper and faster”, detailed the Elysee. “It must be accompanied by the manufacturers themselves with a greater assumption of risks for exports” to the European Union “and far beyond,” estimated the presidency. “We ask manufacturers” to be “even more aggressive in attracting new export customers” to “sustain over time” these materials “that we produced quickly and in large quantities.”
Source: BFM TV
