A Memorandum of Understanding and the strategic partnership between the Government of the Federation of BiH (FBiH) and U.S. company Howell Machine Inc. on the production, development and trade in arms and military equipment was signed on 13^th December in Sarajevo.

The document was signed by the FBiH Prime Minister Nermin Niksic and the Federal Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry Erdal Trhulj, and president and owner of Howell Machine Inc. David Howell.

Minister Trhulj after the signing said that in the past three years, has been made an important step in the development of a military industry production in FBiH, with a circumference increased from about 40 million in 2010, to 160-200 million, as expected in 2013, which exceeded the plans set out in the strategy of development of military industry.

"We have concluded that the we currently reaching a maximum, and for the new breakthrough we should find a strategic partner to bring new technologies and new ways of managing the defence industry", Trhulj said, adding that one of the solutions is just a strategic partnership with Howell Machine Inc.

He noted that the company is present in BiH for more than a year and has signed contracts with companies Igman dd. Konjic and Unis Ginex dd Gorazde, and significantly contributed to their development, increase of production and jobs creation.

"The idea is that, on the basis of this memorandum, in the next few months, to sign a lease agreement with Howell Machine, Inc.. for a period of 10 years. FBiH Government will remain the owner, and U.S. company will manage enterprises Igman Konjic and Unis Ginex Gorazde, Binas Bugojno, Pretis Sarajevo and Zrak Sarajevo", Trhulj said.

According to him, the government, related to that contract, is interested in increasing employment in the military industry, the introduction of new technologies and NATO standards, and Howell Machine, Inc. in profit.

Howell, after signing the memorandum, said that the intention of Howell Machine, Inc. is continuous work with factories in Bosnia and export of products to the U.S., and other international markets.

"We hope to continue to have the support of the Government, with the aim of increasing the number of employees and improving the quality of life in BiH," added Howell.

 Howell Machine, Inc., seated in Lewiston, Idaho state, is an American company that is engaged in the production, development and trade in weapons, military equipment and other items of defence technology.

In the market of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the company is recognized as the largest single buyer of products from the FBiH defence industry.

This company in 2013, concluded deals worth around 65 million euros with the companies Igman Konjic and Unis Ginex Gorazde, and made a decision on investing in the expansion of production capacity for the production of the initial means in Unis Ginex Gorazde. The signing of the Memorandum was attended by representatives of the U.S. Embassy in BiH, BiH Ministry of Security, BiH Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Division-responsible for issuing licenses, the Intelligence and Security Agency of BiH, FBiH Government, international organizations and the Federal Directorate for Military industry.