The Ministry of Defense's Defense Procurement Agency (AOZ) and the Norwegian Defense Materiel Agency (NDMA) have agreed to strengthen their ongoing cooperation in the procurement of weapons.
The leaders of the agencies signed a document that opens up opportunities for the exchange of information between Ukraine and Norway regarding current offerings in the arms and military equipment market. Additionally, there is a possibility for joint R&D in the field of innovative weaponry.
"The expansion of cooperation with Norway is an important step in the development of our international collaboration in defense procurement, especially amid the full-scale invasion. The exchange of experience between our countries will help improve the planning and supply processes for weapons, which is critical for successfully countering aggression," said Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Defense, Dmytro Klymenkov.
Strengthening cooperation with NATO countries is a key focus of the Ministry of Defense's work and, in particular, the Defense Procurement Agency.
"The successful history of the Norwegian agency demonstrates the significance of the contribution made by capable and independent institutions in ensuring the armed needs of the state. In wartime, it is critically important for us to adopt this experience in a very short time, and we are grateful to Norway for its readiness to provide comprehensive support," said Marina Bezkrovna, Director of the Defense Procurement Agency.
The NDMA team continues to conduct training courses for AOZ staff, which helps adapt the best procurement agency practices from NATO countries to Ukraine, considering the realities of the full-scale war.
"Constant support from the Defense Procurement Agency is of great importance to us and is one of our main priorities. Moreover, the experience of the Ukrainian Agency helps us understand how NDMA can operate in wartime conditions. This gives us important knowledge for the further development of our own processes, and the high evaluation from the Defense Procurement Agency is a sign of the quality of our organization and our personnel," said Gru Yare, head of the Norwegian Defense Materiel Agency.
Two project groups have been established for agency cooperation, one in Oslo and one in Kyiv. Training has already been conducted, including in contract and project management, risk management, human resources management, international arbitration, and more. This allows for the development of the professional capabilities of the Defense Procurement Agency.
