Pentagon seeks possible suppliers from Estonia
11.11.2010, 08:47US troops and NATO allies who are fighting in Afghanistan could soon be drinking Värska mineral water and Kadarbiku smooties, eat Estonian-grown cabbage and carrots and use cement made in Estonia. This, of course, provided that the war in Afghanistan continues for some time and Estonian producers are selected to act as suppliers by Defence Logistics Agency (DLA), Pentagon's main logistics organization, writes Äripäev.
DLA has already established contacts with the Estonian association of defence industries that has 71 members and received from the association a list of possible suppliers. Among others, DLA is seeking suppliers of considerable quantiites of vegetables, drinking water and construction supplies for forces fighting in Afghanistan.
"It does not matter who is buying my products - the army or a retail chain," says Kalle Reiter, chairman of Sagro. Reiter said that he has provided his capacity figures to the association, but there has been no feedback on the issue yet.
According to Reiter, if a supply contract were to be signed, he could increase the planting of seeds for the next year's crop. "People would get more work and the state would get more taxes. It's not important who is the final buyer," said he.
Meelis Einstein, CEO of Kunda Nordic Tsement, told Äripäev that the company could supply about 5,000 tons of cement a month to Afghanistan. This is 60,000 cement bags a year and represents a considerable volume.
According to calculations, an average soldier needs about 3 kilograms of food and beverages every day. In war situations as in Afghanistan, the figure is slightly higher. NATO and US have deployed 150,000 soldiers in Afghanistan.
Ants Pak, owner of Kadarbiku farm, one of Estonia's largest, says that he could feed 100,000 people with his smooties, beat, cabbage, carrots and juices. With additional plantations, the farm has a capacity to supply Pentagon with 1,500 tons of sauerkraut, 3,000 tons of carrots and up to 3,000 tons of cabbage.
Pak said that such a contract would reduce the company's logistics costs and grocery chain bonuses. "There would be one fixed customer who is always able to pay for the goods," listed Pak the advantages.
However, Pak said that he has no illusions about the likelihood of this happening. "I have been competing with increadibly cheap Polish food here in Estonia for twenty years. Such a contract would be a miracle."