Kalinak: VTSU Zahorie Ideal Place for NATO Centre of Excellence

Senica, October 1 (TASR) - The Military Technical and Testing Institute (VTSU) Zahorie in Senica (Trnava region) is an ideal location for a NATO Centre of Excellence for indirect fire, Vice-premier and Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD) said on Tuesday at the Industry Day event at VTSU Zahorie, speaking also about Slovakia's self-sufficiency in the arms industry and efforts to export production. According to Kalinak, Slovakia wants to compete for a centre of excellence. "In the Netherlands, they no longer have a space where they can test and try in this way. There will be, and already is, interest in this," he stated, adding that more information will be known next year. Kalinak pointed out that Slovakia can also offer its surplus production capacities to other countries. "The arms industry has always formed a very important part of the gross domestic product. It has created and is creating thousands of jobs in Slovakia," he added. am/mcs