2026 croatia-korea defence industry day
zagreb 16.4.2026.
At the Croatia–Korea Defence Industry Day 2026, held on 16 April in Zagreb, the Croatian Defence Industry Competitiveness Cluster (HKKOI) and the Korea Defense Industry Association (KDIA) signed a Letter of Intent, opening the way for closer industrial cooperation, joint projects, and direct company-to-company engagement through B2B meetings.
The event took place at the Sheraton Hotel in Zagreb, organised by HKKOI and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, and brought together representatives of state institutions as well as about 100 leading Croatian and Korean companies from the defence and security sector.
Letter of Intent: a framework for long-term partnership
The central part of the programme was the signing of a Letter of Intent between HKKOI and KDIA, through which the two organisations confirmed their interest in developing a long-term partnership, exchanging knowledge and technologies, and launching joint projects.
The aim of the cooperation is to strengthen the competitiveness and innovation potential of the defence industries of Croatia and the Republic of Korea, and to connect companies in concrete development and production initiatives.
“Signing the Letter of Intent with KDIA is an important step forward in the internationalisation of the Croatian defence industry. We are opening space for concrete, long-term cooperation through joint projects and the development of new technologies, and we believe this partnership will bring mutual benefits,” said Goran Basarac, President of HKKOI.
Industrial cooperation
The programme featured presentations by leading Korean defence companies, while HKKOI highlighted the capabilities of Croatian industry—from flexibility and innovation to opportunities to join international value chains and co-develop advanced solutions.
Ambassador Lee Seungbum emphasised that, for Korea, industrial cooperation is focused on long-term partnerships of mutual benefit, noting that a similar model is already being implemented in Europe and that there is potential to achieve it with Croatia as well.
B2B meetings: direct company connections
Alongside the forum and presentatin from best Korean defence companies, a series of B2B meetings were held, during which Croatian and Korean companies exchanged information on their product portfolios and discussed possible forms of cooperation—from supplier and development partnerships to joint projects.
Croatia–Korea Defence Industry Day 2026 confirmed strong interest in deepening relations between the two countries, with a focus on technological development, security, and practical industrial cooperation.
