In the latest episode of the #ON AIR podcast, aviation expert Peter Malanik, business lawyer Bernhard Müller, and industry spokesperson Paul Frühwirth-Riegler discussed the strategic importance of industrial cooperation, particularly in the context of defense procurement. The experts discussed how such countertrades can not only increase a country's security of supply but also secure long-term technological expertise and economic resilience at home.
A central point of the discussion was the need to involve Austrian suppliers in international armaments projects, as Austria does not manufacture its own platforms in core military areas such as fighter aircraft production. Müller, Chairman of the Procurement Review Commission at the Federal Ministry of Defense, explained the role of this commission in advising the minister and the prerequisites for industrial cooperation that could arise from the new government program. The use of this instrument by other EU countries was also examined.
The podcast episode emphasized that industrial cooperation represents an important strategic tool for strengthening Austria as a business location while simultaneously being relevant to security and economic policy, especially in times of increasing geopolitical tensions. The need for a binding strategic framework for the aviation industry was emphasized to ensure its future competitiveness. The podcast #ON AIR with Peter Malanik is available on popular platforms such as Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Podcast.
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