WAM ABU DHABI: The International Defence Exhibition and conference (IDEX) participated in the 11th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF’13) that took place in Istanbul from May 7th – 10th. A comprehensive and important marketing platform for UAE companies and the entire defence industry, the event attracted some of the largest defence companies from around the world.
IDEX, using its wealth of international experience and relationships with key industry specialists, organised this year’s UAE National Pavilion at IDEF. Over the four days, the pavilion provided both a marketing and networking platform as well as exhibiting the innovative defence products available from UAE companies. Managed by the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation and organized by T?yap Fairs ‘&’ Exhibitions Organization Inc., more than 800 companies from 49 countries attended the event.
The occasion represented a strategic opportunity to promote IDEX as the leading defence exhibition in the Middle East and North Africa. Attending IDEF for the first time, IDEX was also accompanied by additional UAE defence companies including Tawazun, Sofia Trading and Advanced Integrated Systems (AIS).
"IDEF was an impressive exhibition in a region that is the focus of huge defence exports efforts. Attendance at events such as these is key for IDEX. They enable us to build on the already excellent relationships we have with our international counterparts and enable us to support the UAE trade and defence industry by demonstrating the world-class equipment and technology the UAE has to offer," said Saleh Al Marzooqi, IDEX Director.
"IDEX 2013 was internationally recognised as an overwhelming success. The exhibition reached out to a truly global audience and the occasion without doubt served its purpose of strategically positioning IDEX as one of the leading defence exhibitions in the world. Our presence at IDEF’13 comes as part of the wider strategy to promote IDEX within the industry as preparations continue ahead of the next exhibition in Abu Dhabi in 2015. Our time at this year’s IDEF was hugely productive and the insight gained will certainly help us and the UAE with our own projects going forward," he added.
In addition to attending IDEF 2013, IDEX was in Rio de Janeiro last month to lead the UAE participation at the LAAD Defence and Security International Exhibition which proved to be a huge success.
IDEX will next take place in 2015. Over 50% of space at IDEX 2015 was leased before the conclusion of IDEX 2013 in February. IDEX 2013 hosted 1,112 exhibiting companies from 59 countries and over 80,000 visitors. Commanding global attention with launches of products such as TAWAZUN’s NIMR, the 20133 edition was the largest IDEX since the exhibition began two decades ago.
Running alongside IDEX 2013 was the Naval Defence Exhibition, (NAVDEX) which doubled in size since its inception with over 80 exhibitors participating in 2013. During the exhibitions, the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces signed 55 defence contracts worth a collective AED 14 billion, signifying the UAE’s on-going commitment to upholding an advanced and peaceful defence infrastructure.
First held in 1993, IDEX (International Defence Exhibition ‘&’ Conference) is the largest joint defence exhibition in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. IDEX takes place biennially under the patronage of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and is organised by ADNEC (Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company) in association with the UAE Armed Forces GHQ. IDEX, the only international defence and maritime security exhibition in the MENA region, demonstrates the latest technology across land, sea and air sectors of defence. It is a unique platform to establish and strengthen relationships with government departments, businesses and armed forces and in 2013 attracted 1,112 exhibiting companies from 59 countries and over 80,000 attendees.
WAM/MMYS
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