LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

Throughout the last fourteen years there is one forum in Bulgaria where the local and international defense industries meet to establish and perpetuate contacts in the name of the world security and protection.

The International Defense Equipment Exhibition HEMUS takes place every two years in the end of May under the direction of an Organizing Committee presided by the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Bulgaria. It is organized jointly by International Fair Plovdiv JSC and Foundation Hemus’95 on the territory of the fair village.

From 28 to 31 May 2008, the exhibition shall present its eighth edition. The interest in this event that has already become a tradition keeps growing. In 2006, 157 companies from 22 countries (90 foreign and 67 Bulgarian) took part. The exhibition was visited by 13 official delegations from Albania, Vietnam, Germany, Greece, Egypt, Korea, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, Turkey, Ukraine, Hungary and France, and by representatives of different NATO structures. Among the visitors were also all military attachés in Bulgaria as well as many specialists and businessmen from the defense sector.

The official opening of Hemus 2006 was honored with the presence of representatives of the Presidency, the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Defense, the General Headquarters of the Bulgarian Army, the Ministry of Economy and Energy, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, the Ministry of Interior, the Bulgarian Academy of Science, many universities and so on.

The analysis of the previous editions shows number of positive effects such as signing of contracts for modernization of the Bulgarian armed forces, for joint production, for transfer of know-how, etc.

The main event organized in parallel with Hemus is the International Conference on Defense Research and Technology. It will celebrate its fourth edition in 2008. Witness of the great interest in this event is the participation of an extraordinary number of foreign scientists. At Hemus 2006, representatives of 12 countries participated to the conference and 69 lectures were delivered, of which 10 by foreign researchers.

Another event that attracts a lot of interest is the shooting demonstration at the Central Artillery Technical Test Range. Beside the features of the range itself, there are demonstrated the latest achievements of companies which work in the field of light arms, artillery, antitank, air defense and missile armament.

The demonstration of gear and weapons of the “Soldier of the Future” is yet one more event that attracts visitors and exhibitors.

The Congress Center of the International Fair Plovdiv offers to participants and visitors to the exhibition excellent opportunities for presentation of companies and products, and for business contacts and meetings.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING YOU AT HEMUS 2008!