Egypt participated, on Sunday, in the International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) and the Naval Defence and Maritime Security Exhibition (NAVDEX) which are being held in Abu Dhabi.
The activities of the exhibitions are being attended by Minister of State for Military Production Mohamed Ahmed Morsi and Minister of Defence Mohamed Zaki.
According to state-owned newspaper Al-Ahram, Morsi toured the exhibition during which he visited other participating countries’ pavilions, where he viewed their military products and equipment on display.
The newspaper also noted that Morsi held several meetings on the sidelines of the exhibition’s first day. During this, he met with Rolls Royce Representative Tariq Nubar and Mile Pejcic, representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s TRB company, which works in the field of small arms, ballistics, and 40 mm bombs.
Morsi is set to meet with a number of military leaders and company heads from around the world, and who are participating in the conference. The Ministry of Military Production said that Egypt’s participation in such events represents an important opportunity to establish strategic partnerships.
It also presents Egypt with the opportunity to open new areas and horizons for military cooperation with major regional and international companies, particularly in the field of advanced defence systems.
The ministry added that the country’s participation in such events will allow Egypt to present its manufacturing capabilities.
The 2021 IDEX and NAVDEX exhibitions showcase the latest developments in the defence industries sector in terms of advanced and innovative technology and equipment.
They are also designed to highlight the development of the national defence industries sector in the country. This comes in addition to the strategic partnerships between the various participating parties, and major international companies specialised in these sectors.
On Sunday, under the patronage of the UAE’s President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the IDEX and NAVDEX 2021 were opened at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. The exhibitions are set to come to an end on 25 February.
The event was opened with a speech by Mohammed Bin Ahmad Al Bawardi, the UAE’s Minister of State for Defence Affairs, in which he highlighted the key role his country plays in advancing the global defence sector.
Four main sessions followed, in which both local and international experts participated. Prominent speakers included: the UAE’s Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail Bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei; Omar Bin Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications; and Ahmed Bin Abdulaziz Al Ohali, Governor of the General Authority for Military Industries in Saudi Arabia.
The first session was moderated by Badr Al-Olama, Executive Director – Aerospace, Mubadala Investment Company, and held under the title ‘Exploring innovative opportunities in supply-chain ecosystem management beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic’.
It featured: Al Mazrouei; Al Ohali; CEO and President of Diehl Defence Helmut Rauch; and Tim Cahill, Senior Vice President at Lockheed Martin International.
The second session was held under the title ‘Protecting AI and other 4IR technologies in the age of collaboration and diffusion’. It was attended by: Omar Bin Sultan Al Olama; Micael Johansson, Chief Executive Officer at Saab Group; Heidi Grant, Director of the US’ Defence Security Cooperation Agency; and Eric Papin, Executive VP Technical and Innovation Officer, Naval Group.
IDEX and NAVDEX, along with the International Defence Conference, are organised by the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC). They run in cooperation with the UAE’s Ministry of Defence, as well as the General Command of the UAE Armed Forces.
The exhibitions showcase the latest technologies and innovation in the global defence sector, support the growth of the UAE’s defence industry, and forge new relationships between major international companies.
The International Defence Conference 2021 is, for the first time, being held as a hybrid event, due to the circumstances caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. It will bring together industry experts and specialists from across the world. There will be a mixed physical and virtual attendance, bringing together all participants in one hub at the ADNOC Business Center.
The conference’s theme will be “The Prosperity and Development of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology and the Protection in the Era of the 4IR”.
IDEX says, “This edition marks the commencement of the recovery phase from the COVID-19 pandemic, in spite of the ongoing global conditions.”
“It will demonstrate how Abu Dhabi and the UAE are ready and able to organise, deliver, and host leading international events, it added, “The UAE has the infrastructure and expertise necessary to organise such a global event in adherence to leading precautionary health and safety measures.”
The exhibition organisers noted that these measures further exemplify how IDEX and NAVDEX lead the global events sector. They also showcase how Abu Dhabi appeals to a wide range of countries to take part in one of the most prominent global defence events, with over 26 global industry leaders, specialists, and experts aiming to attend the sessions.
Both ADNEC and the organising committees for the IDEX and NAVDEX exhibitions, as well as the International Defence Conference, continue to coordinate with the UAE’s authorities in implementing the highest standard of safety measures for all.
All participants attending IDEX, NAVDEX, and the IDC, will be required to have a negative PCR test before entering either the conference or the exhibitions. In addition, social distancing measures and the wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE) is being mandated across exhibitions and conference facilities.
