Kalinak: Slovakia to Produce 4,000 Tatra Military Vehicles for Asian Client

Dubnica nad Vahom/Bratislava, 16 December (TASR) - Over the next four years, 4,000 Tatra military cargo vehicles worth more than one billion euros will be produced in Moldava nad Bodvou (Kosice region), Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD) announced in Dubnica nad Vahom (Trencin region) on Tuesday alongside representatives of Czechoslovak Group. The record contract was won by Tatra Defence Slovakia for a customer from Southeast Asia. Production will be carried out by MSM Land Systems. Both companies are part of Czechoslovak Group, which is owned by Czech entrepreneur Michal Strnad. "Slovakia has historically been a major producer of Tatra vehicles. The brand itself has Slovak roots, as the first vehicles with the 'Tatra' chassis were tested in our mountains. Tatra production is returning to Slovakia on a large scale, with 300 jobs to be created in Moldava nad Bodvou. I believe that this contract for 4,000 vehicles will be followed by other ones in the future," the Defence Minister underlined. According to MSM Land Systems chief executive Michal Balaz, the plant in Moldava nad Bodvou will have to prepare quickly for a sharp increase in production. The company is also engaged in repairing towed and self-propelled howitzers and infantry fighting vehicles. "We need more than 300 new employees to handle the record contract for 4,000 Tatra vehicles. Their recruitment and training will be a major challenge," added Balaz. mf/df