The President of Georgia visited the “Delta” Military Research Technical Center of the Ministry of Defense today. Mikheil Saakashvili was introduced to the production process while inspecting the production assembled on site. The President was also introduced to the technological opportunities of the facility.

“IT would seem like bomb thrower would be a simple thing, but it is very hard to find a 120 mm type on the world market. I think this is very important in terms of the export market. I think what we did here is a technical breakthrough because we need anti-tank weapons the most. It is capable of being controlled though a wire or radio remote control. It is possible to operate it by a laser as well. This means that a Georgian anti-tank weapon has appeared. We have to equip all reserve units with these grenade launchers and bomb throwers. I am also very glad that a Georgian machine gun has appeared. This is a more important achievement that we created anti-tank weaponry and light bomb throwers which we need for reserve officers. We should also equip our reserve officers with Georgian machine guns. As of the Georgian unmanned drone, we should try and create a larger one within a year, the one on which weaponry can be installed. This is our goal. The future belongs to unmanned aviation and in this sense Georgia must be a leader. It is good when you can say that our country can produce everything – beginning from tomato pasta ending with airplanes, but we should learn marketing for this, the rules of competition and adopt foreign elements because no country can go to the world market by 100%” – stated Mikheil Saakashvili.

The President of Georgia also met with the facility personnel and spoke to them about the importance of developing the engineering sphere. According to him, Georgia must be able to produce weaponry and military technology just like the high tech countries, which is the most important factor in terms of increasing defensibility of Georgia. The Head of State noted that this factory is not only the source of employment, but the bases for developing the economy of Georgia, technologies, and industries. He also drew attention to the fact that the part of the Georgians, who have been working on such issues abroad, have come back to Georgia to work on them here. As he noted, our engineers must return from all over the world and continue their work in Georgia.

Mikheil Saakashvili also noted that the country is at a very important stage and it is imperative that people have an opportunity to work and create new products. According to the President, it is important that Georgia becomes an exporter country in this sense, for which it is necessary to train more specialists. He noted that the increased demand in colleges in military and engineering directions is a sign of people’s trust and the country will definitely reach the goal it has set.

2,500 people are currently working at the facility but as Mikheil Saakashvili noted, there is potential to triple this number.