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Too Far & Expensive: Three Large European Companies Skipped Russia’s Far East Naval Show

Rubric: Russia, World, Industry

At least three major European shipbuilders refused to attend the International Far East Naval Show to take place in July in Vladivostok, Russia, reports Mil.Press Today referring to Italian Sormec, French ECA Group, and an insider from Austrian Palfinger.

ECA Group will not visit Vladivostok because of farness of the region, said the company’s commercial director Dominique Mallet. ECA Group has supplied unmanned boats Inspector Mk2 and antimine submersibles Seascan Mk2 for Russian Navy’s Project 12700 minesweepers.

VIII International Maritime Defense Show

A well-informed insider disclosed Mil.Press Today another reason why the French company would ignore the show. He said it was because the Russian Navy refused to procure and localize production of their drone boats in Russia.

Another deep-informed insider told Mil.Press Today that European crane-makers, Austrian Palfinger and Italian Sormec would not attend the show. The latter waived Vladivostok due to high costs of participation in Russian exhibitions, shared the source. As for him, the recent Russian IMDS-2017 cost other foreign exhibitors more than participation in the French Euronaval.

Sormec confirmed their refusal to attend the show. Spokesmen of Palfinger said the company had not looked deep into the coming Russia-based exhibition.

Sponsors of the naval show, Ministry of Industry & Trade and Ministry for Development of Russian Far East, are waiting for potential Asian-Pacific visitors, a spokesman from Rosoboronexport told Mil.Press Today. As for him, the refusal of European companies was ‘anticipated’.
Russia may count on traditional regional military partners, companies and guests from India, China and Vietnam, said Andrey Frolov, chief editor of Arms Export magazine.
The International Far East Naval Show-2018 will take place in Vladivostok before the Russian Navy Day. According to the local source, the hosts have tentatively agreed the dates as July 29 – August 2, but the final decision has not been made so far.

In January, several Russian companies reported they would not attend the Vladivostok’s show due to poor informational coverage of the event: the exhibition has not a website and the dates are unannounced, so participants cannot arrange logistics.