Several Croatian military industry companies are presenting their wares at the International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX) trade show in Abu Dhabi, held this year on February 17-21, the Croatian Chamber of Economy (HGK) said on Monday.

These include helmet maker Sestan-Busch, clothing companies Galeb, Cateks, and Odjeca, and the remote controlled de-mining vehicle manufacturer Dok-Ing.

Started in 1993 and held biennially in odd-numbered years, this year’s edition will be marked by the increasing inclusion of dual-purpose products exhibited, which can be used for both civilian and military purposes, HGK said in a press release.

HGK’s senior official, Tomislav Rados, said that Croatian defence companies are well established worlwide as reliable suppliers of high quality products, and that the entire military sector’s exports amount to more than €100 million every year.

Last week, Croatia’s defence ministry signed contracts with more than 30 locally based suppliers to equip the nation’s soldiers, involving everything from uniforms, shoes, hats and caps, underwear, and helmets.

“Croatia’s imports of goods designed for military use dropped from €70 million in 2016 to €27 million in 2017. Recently, 34 local companies signed military equipment procurement agreements worth 314 million kuna (€42 million) for the Croatian armed forces. This says a lot about the quality and standards that our manufacturers have achieved,” Rados said.

The trade show which features some 1,200 exhibitors is expected to attract more than 100,000 visitors from at least 60 countries.

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