Paris. 11 June 2018. Florence Parly, Minister of Defense, and Stéphane Mayer, Chief Executive Officer of Nexter, have signed a new bilateral agreement as part of the SME Action Plan to promote SME growth through reciprocal commitments between the Ministry of Defense and defense industrial prime contractors (IPC).

As a major land defense IPC at the heart of the SCORPION program, Nexter Group attaches particular importance to the vitality and durability of an essential fabric of efficient and innovative SMEs to constitute a Defense Technological and Industrial Base (DTIB). In continuation of the first agreement signed with the Ministry of the Defense in June 2013, the two signatories undertake to strengthen their joint approach around 4 axes:

– Improve the access of SMEs to defense markets: with more than 80% of its supplier panel residing in France, 50% of which is made up of SMEs, Nexter commits annually to give them visibility on its markets and also, in partnership with the armed forces, to present them with feedback on the operation or maintenance of weapon systems in OPEX use,

– Promoting equitable and partnership-based relationships: consistent with the Responsible Supplier Relations Charter, of which Nexter has been labeled since 2013, the Group undertakes, in the context of its contracts with the Ministry of Defense, to adopt contractual clauses adapted to SMEs like 30-day payment terms,

– Developing and sustaining the DTIB by relying on SMEs: the development of regular exchanges with the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) on strategic SMEs makes it possible to promote technological partnerships in the context of the upstream studies conducted by Nexter, but also through meetings organized by the DGA,

– Contribute to the international development of SMEs: the Nexter group provides promotional devices, especially at exhibitions such as Eurosatory – making models available, valuing their products on its equipment, valuing partnerships, etc.

In order to make the improvement of SMEs’ access to defense markets more concrete and measurable, Nexter and the Ministry of the Armies are committed to putting in place monitoring tools and highlighting the best practices identified.