Official opening of the IX International Exhibition MILEX-2019

In the historical and cultural complex "Stalin's Line" the official opening of the IX International Exhibition MILEX-2019 took place. As in previous years, organizers from the State Authority for Military Industry of the Republic of Belarus, the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Belarus and the BelExpo National Exhibition Center prepared a spectacular and dynamic and at the same time representative show for the forum guests.
The opening ceremony of the exhibition was divided into two parts. The first, official, contained a lot of warm parting words to representatives of delegations and exhibitors.
 The first words were sent by the President to the participants and guests of MILEX. The message of the head of state, which was read out by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Sergey Rumas, refers to the significance of the military forum for the image and economy of the country.
- Your representative forum presents the achievements of leading Belarusian developers and manufacturers of military products and our foreign partners, serves as an effective platform for demonstrating advanced trends and prospects for the development of the global arms market.
The domestic defense industry is one of the priority high-tech sectors of the economy and largely determines the country's image in the international arena. "MILEX-2019" provides an opportunity not only to specialists, but also to the general public to get acquainted with its latest weapons. The format of the event once again confirms our openness and interest in the development of military-technical cooperation with all countries of the world.
I am convinced that the exhibition will facilitate a further exchange of experience, will start joint projects of tomorrow, backed by profitable contracts.
I wish the organizers, participants and guests of MILEX-2019 fruitful work, high business activity and creative initiatives for the benefit of international and national security.
Welcoming speeches were made by the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, First Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Belarus, Major General Oleg Belokonev, who noted the symbolism of the current exhibition, held on the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from Nazi invaders.
- You can feel the inextricable connection of generations of defenders of the Fatherland by familiarizing yourself not only with the latest developments in the defense sector of the economy, but also by touching military history. The international exhibition is rightfully considered to be a unique platform that contributes to increasing innovation and investment activity in the field of creating and modernizing weapons, military and special equipment, and introducing the most advanced technologies. A large-scale arms show taking place in the Belarusian territory traditionally attracts the attention of leading domestic and world manufacturers of military products, and the dynamics of the growth in the number of participants and visitors is a confirmation of the growth of its authority and popularity in the professional environment.
I am convinced that MILEX-2019 will not only demonstrate the main trends and prospects for the development of the world arms market used to ensure state security, but also open up new opportunities for international cooperation.
The important role played by the Belarusian exhibition of armaments and military equipment in the East European region was also discussed by the chairman of the State Authority for Military Industry Roman Golovchenko.
- The MILEX exhibition can rightfully be called the visiting card of the domestic defense industry, which is developing as a high-tech multidisciplinary sector of the economy, the level of scientific, technical, production and technological potential of which allows solving the problems of national security and defense of the state, positive dynamics of socio-economic growth, as well as the development of military-technical cooperation with foreign countries.
Today we set out to create such models of weapons and military equipment that we could not even dream about 5-7 years ago.
The experience of the past Minsk arms salons demonstrates the growing interest of world arms manufacturers in the Belarusian exhibition site.
The organization of such a large-scale exhibition project in the Belarusian territory is intended to present a wide range of largely unique domestic military products to potential partners, which, thanks to their high quality, reliability and technical characteristics, today can seriously compete with the best foreign counterparts in a number of areas. Today, 76 states are armed with their armies with modern models of military products with the brand name “Made in Belarus”.
I am sure that the rich business program of the exhibition will arouse great interest among specialists, will contribute to increasing the export capabilities of the Belarusian defense industry, will make a significant contribution to the development of international military-technical cooperation, and will increase the international prestige of the Republic of Belarus.
The opening ceremony was also attended by First Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Turchin, Assistant to the President for National Security Viktor Lukashenko, Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich, Minister of Interior Affairs Lieutenant General of the Police Igor Shunevich, Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei, Minister of Information Alexander Karlyukevich, Chairman of the State Border Committee Major General Anatoly Lappo, Chairman of the State Control Committee Leonid Anfimov, Deputy Secretary of State of the Security Council Major-General Michael Puzikov, chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences Vladimir Gusakov and other officials and representatives of the official delegations from 35 countries.
The Stalin Line was not in vain chosen as the venue for the ceremony. The current Minsk arms forum is held in the year of celebrating the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from Nazi invaders, in the year declared by the decree of the head of state sa the year of a small homeland, which fully corresponds to the spirit that permeates the exposition of the historical and cultural complex.
The audience could not only enjoy the performance of the girls from the ensemble “Khvilinka” and the soldiers of the Honor Guard Company, but also became part of these fighting episodes. The first of them belonged to the times of the Great Patriotic War, and allowed to understand the challenges that fell on many soldiers of that time. The second is a plot from modern life, which in real conditions demonstrated the capabilities of the latest developments of the Belarusian defense industry. Including those that were presented at MILEX in 2017. In particular, viewers saw in action the Cayman armored vehicles, the modernized BTR-70-BM 1, as well as the tactical MZKT-500200 vehicles designed to tow the NONA 2B23 artillery system.
The opening ceremony clearly demonstrated the high level of combat training of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus, the scientific and production potential of the country's defense industry, the infinite respect of Belarusians for their heroic history, culture and traditions of the people. On occasion setting the tone for the entire forum that started. From the Stalin Line, the guests went to the largest sports complex in Belarus - Minsk Arena, where an impressive exposition of the latest developments in the defense industry had been placed the day before and where in the afternoon another more “business-like” and set in a serious, constructive way Opening of the exposition of the largest arms forum in Eastern Europe will take place.

Official source http://vpk.gov.by