UAE opens IDEX 2013, attracts top foreign Defense officials from Europe and the MENA region

Under the patronage of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the International Defence Exhibition and Conference, the IDEX – along with the Gulf Defense Conference (GDC) - opened its doors on February 17 and will end on February 21. According to the event's website, IDEX takes place biennially at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) and "is a unique platform to establish and strengthen relationships with government departments, businesses and armed forces" throughout the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region.

With the largest country pavilion, the UAE companies seek to extend their reach to the most advanced suppliers and manufacturers. Such a national gathering of 147 Emirates-based companies confirms the UAE's ambition to strengthen its national security as the Middle East context keeps deteriorating due to growing post Arab Spring's instability, ongoing Syrian crisis and unresolved questions about the Iranian nuclear program. "Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 makes clear that diversification beyond oil and gas will require advancement in sectors including aerospace and defense," said Mohammed Omar Abdullah, Abu Dhabi's Undersecretary of the Department of Economic Development.

The IDEX also attracted foreign officials. Most important of them came from Europe, like French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian whose visit is pursuant to President François Hollande's one month ago. Mr Hollande reiterated France's commitment to the security of the UAE, especially on counterterrorism and Iran-related issue, a DiploNews report said on January 17. He also informed that Mr Le Drian would come back soon with a view to discussing further involvement of the French defense industry in the development of the UAE military assets.

Yemeni Defense Minister Mohammed Nasser Ahmed also attended the Exhibition. "Yemen looks forward to see its defense establishment a part of the Gulf defense system, which copes with the defense requirements of the entire Gulf States," he said. Italian Undersecretary of State for Defense, Filippo Milone, on behalf of the Defense Minister Giampaolo Di Paola, participated as well. His Greek colleague, Panos Panagiotopoulos told the IDEX attendance that "Greece, despite the difficult financial circumstance it experiences, is a country with very powerful Armed Forces and this is respected and appreciated by many countries in the broader region we belong to."

Was also noticed the presence of the US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State at the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs Thomas Kelly; the British Minister for Defense Equipment, Support and Technology Philip Dunne; the Delegate to the Minister of National Defense of Algeria Abdelmalek Guenaïzia and the Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zekerijah Osmic.

In 2011, the IDEX attracted 1,060 exhibiting companies from 52 countries and over 60,000 attendees. With more than 57 participating countries and over 1,300 media corporations worldwide that covered the event, it was, this year too, a quite effective opportunity for the UAE to enhance diplomatic contacts with foreign officials in a less formal way.

DISCLAIMER:
Parts of or the whole information published on this page is likely to originate from Official Institutions like Governments, Ministries, Embassies and States. Its reproduction on this page does not constitute any endorsement from DiploNews and any of its affiliates and/or partners. If titles are sometimes modified for better understanding, the contents are reproduced exactly as delivered by the institution that first published it. To know the exact origin, click on 'view original source' at the end of the page. All information that originates from DiploNews is copyrighted and cannot be reproduced without written express authorization from DiploNews.