Paris (AFP)

The world of Defense launches a seduction operation aimed at young people in order to "arouse vocations" for the military and industrial trades with "La Fabrique Défense", an exhibition held on Friday and Saturday in Paris.

"We want to foster a European defense spirit and bring young French people closer to the world of defense," said David Samson, captain of the French Navy.

The event at the Paris Event Center Porte de la Villette (northeast of Paris), which is expected to welcome more than 7,000 people, will bring together the various players in the sector: the armies (Land, Air, Marine), intelligence services, various defense industry and universities.

"This is an unprecedented event, operations for the general public are missing. We need these forums to attract new talent, give young people perspectives and encourage new vocations," said AFP François Lambert, delegate. General of the Shipbuilding Industries and Activities Group (GICAN), on the sidelines of a presentation press conference.

The French naval industry represents more than 46,000 direct jobs, more than half of which are in the military field.

The French Navy and the naval industry lobby gathered at the show to show the "consistency" between the different courses, in a context of vocations crisis for the Defense professions.

"It is not enough to have industrialists who make modern boats, you need people to drive them," adds Captain Samson, while the number of enlisted in the Navy is at a historically low low, with 42,000 people under contract, even if these numbers rebounded in 2019, after years of fall or stagnation.

The industry needs to recruit 10,000 people over the next ten years.

At the show, visitors will be able to meet the different players but also take part in different simulations, such as piloting a drone, and strategy games.

European defense is also highlighted at this fair, which the Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly must visit with her British, Portuguese and Swiss counterparts.

Various "La Fabrique Défense" events have already been organized in France and in Europe since November 2019.

© 2020 AFP