This webinar, held on the road to the OECD Global Forum on Local Development 2026 hosted by the Province of Limburg, explored how rising defence spending can open opportunities to (re)build industrial capabilities and create local jobs. Drawing on concrete experiences, the webinar examined how industrial heritage can be repurposed, how skills systems must evolve to support expansion in the sector and the wider economic implications of increased defence spending. Together, the discussions highlighted both the opportunities and the practical challenges that defence investment creates for local and regional development.
Leveraging Defence Investments for Regional Development: On the road to the OECD Global Forum on Local Development in Limburg
- Date
- 11 March 2026
- Time
- 13:00
- Location
- Online
About
Speakers
Nadim Ahmad
Deputy Director, Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities, OECD
Stephan Satijn
Regional Minister for Economy, Finance and Business Operations and Public Affairs, Limburg, the Netherlands
Daniel Janeiro
Coordinator of the External Relations Department, Alentejo Development Agency (ADRAL), Portugal, and Vice-President, EURADA
Hélène Morin
Head of EU Affairs Department, Bretagne Next, France
Andy Sams
Assistant Head of Industrial Policy, Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom
Lucia Cusmano
PhD, Head of the SMEs and Entrepreneurship Division, OECD
