The defense industry will gain private sector support. ARP shows the plan
ARP president Bartłomiej Babuśka announces a greater opening of the defense industry to the private sector. An example is cooperation around the RFK company.
The Polish defense industry enters the new phase of development. Bartłomiej Babuśka, president of the Industrial Development Agency, announced that the reconstruction of the country’s defense capabilities cannot be based solely on state -owned enterprises. Close cooperation of the public and private sector is to play a key role.
RFK instead of Rafako
An example of such a solution is RFK, based on the bankrupt Rafako. The former company operated mainly in the energy and heating sector, and thanks to the cooperation of the ARP, Mostostal polymex and the Silesia Financial Society, it was transformed into an entity with defense potential. According to the President of the ARP, this model of public-private partnership can be a model for subsequent projects.
Babuśka emphasized that the Industrial Development Agency has experience in managing such partnerships and intends to use them more widely. In his opinion, to effectively strengthen the national defense industry, it is necessary to engage private companies and stimulate their development.
ARP manages two special economic zones: Euro-Park Mielec and the Tarnobrzeg EURO-PARK Wisłosan zone. According to Babuśki, the interest of investors in placing projects in these places is very high, both among Polish and foreign companies. The details were not disclosed because of ongoing negotiations, but the head of the agency assured that these are serious conversations.
Cooperation in the defense sector
The potential for cooperation in the defense sector is seen, among others in such entities as the Inofama Group, H. Cegielski Fabryka Szynegoków, the Baltic Group and Rafamet. According to the President of ARP, many of these companies can develop a double application, civil and military production.
At the same time, Babuśka noticed that not all enterprises were able to accept further contracts. He pointed out that H. Cegielski already has orders worth PLN 5 billion, which is heavily burdened with the plant. Therefore, in his opinion, orders should be unfolded to evenly use the potential of various companies.
ARP also plans to integrate H. Cegielski with Polish rail rolling stock from Ostrów Wielkopolski. As Babuśka pointed out, it is about using synergy between plants, although it is too early for the details.
