As part of the week-long tailor-made program, the Gabon delegation visited the Czech most famous security industry companies AERO Vodochody, Bowenite, Aircraft Industries, Bristell, Česká zbrojovka, Tatra Trucks, VOP Šenov u Nového Jičína, Excalibur Army, Era, Retia, Aviation Training Center, LOM Prague, Primoco, OMNIPOL. Gabon's Minister of Defense also met with the the Defence Industry Business Association Director Mr. Jiří Hynek, VAE Controls Group Director Leo Matloch and representatives of Zetor Defense and DEFCON.

The commander of Gabon's military health care was also a member of the delegation, for whom a separate program was prepared. He met with representatives of LINET and MZ Liberec, in order to discuss the possibilities of reconstruction and subsequent equipment of Gabonese military hospitals providing health care for the civilian population. They also visited Czech leading medical facilities - the hospital in Motol and the special institute for chemical-biological protection in Těchonín.

The Gabonese delegation was enthusiastic about the presented Czech products, for which it appreciated the very high technological level and quality. With regard to the interest in ensuring the country's security, the involvement of the Gabonese armed forces in UN missions and the situation in the Sahel, the door is therefore being opened very broadly for the Czech defense and security sector in this country. At the moment, there are the first few contracts to be finalized, which will hopefully be followed by others.

The Gabonese delegation was also received by the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Miloslav Stašek and the Director of the Foreign Office of the President of the Czech Republic, Mr. Rudolf Jindrák, and accompanied during the program by Deputy Minister of Defense. In cooperation with the Embassy of Abuja, the Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic in Gabon, Mr. Jozef Kupec, took part in the preparation of the visit.

The visit, which took place in a friendly spirit, was another successful embodiment of the Czech efforts to deepen relations with one of the most promising countries in the region of sub-Saharan Africa, with which it will be worth maintaining good relations.

Author: Mgr. Beata Matusiková, MBA, economic diplomat, Embassy of the Czech Republic in Nigeria