Page 22 - ADT APRIL 2022 Online Magazine

Quality over Quantity
Russian aggression on Ukraine had an impact
on the attendance at the event, with Russian
companies absent, but there was enough at
DIMDEX 2022 to prove that the global defence
industry had made a complete recovery from
the pandemic. Companies from Croatia, South [ SHOW REPORT ]
Korea, Iran and Jordan made their DIMDEX
debut at the show, with Iranian Ministry of
Defense, which showcasing Iranian-made
weapons, in particular attracting plenty of
attention by sharing event space with the U.S.
Products that Ira highlighted mainly included
missiles and air defence weapons. Conspicuous
by their absence at the show were Saudi
Arabian Military Industries and Emirati defence
Lasting Contracts Galore
conglomerate Edge.

As many as 32 contracts, including agreements,
memorandums of understanding and a letter of
intent, were signed at the three-day event that
Impression
has, over successive editions, become inter-
nationally known for facilitating commercial
deals and knowledge transfer at the highest
level. The event attracted more than 20,000
visitors, 14 international pavilions and more than
90 VIP delegations. According to Brigadier
Abdul-Baqi Saleh Al-Ansari, DIMDEX Chairman,
the organizing committee has already begun
THE MIGHT OF QATAR’S INDIGENOUS DEFENCE preparations for the next edition, which will take
INDUSTRY WAS ON SHOW AT THE RECENTLY place from March 4 to 6, 2024. Seven inter-
CONCLUDED DIMDEX 2022 national companies have signed contracts for
participation in DIMDEX 2024, he added.
Arun Sivasankaran “Events such as DIMDEX are of crucial impor-
tance for regional peace as well as global
The recent seventh Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition security as they facilitate military cooperation,
and Conference (DIMDEX 2022) signaled the coming of age of the collaborative partnerships in the defence and
Qatar’s domestic defence industry, with government owned Barzan security sector, as well as knowledge exchange
Holdings, which was formally launched at the previous edition of at the highest levels between industry and gov-
the event in 2018, leading the charge. ernment,” said Staff Brigadier (Sea) Al-Ansari.
Barzan, which is focused on three key areas - investments, R&D “The major deals and memoranda of under-
and strategic procurement – is primarily for the benefit of the Qatari standing announced during the past three days,
Armed Forces but the company is keeping its eye open for export while proving yet again that DIMDEX is without
opportunities as well. The company was a prominent presence at parallel when it comes to facilitating commer-
the show, with many aircraft and systems branded with its logo cial success for exhibitors, also point to the
stealing attention at the show. Among the joint ventures that show- global trend of increased military spending.”
cased products were Rheinmetall Barzan Advanced Technologies,
and Bindig, a JV with gun-maker Beretta. Tukey and the U.S. Impress
Barzan’s fully owned subsidiaries include Barzan Industrial Turkey, which has made rapid strides in recent
Group, which produces rifles and related equipment, small caliber years when it comes to defence exports, was
ammunition maker Barood Ammunition Factory, US-based Barzan omnipresent at the show, with 32 companies
Aeronautical that is focused on aerial ISR options; and Barzan exhibiting the latest in equipment and tech-
Maintenance Shield, which in a player in the MRO services sector. nologies. The Turkish presence at the event
Aware of the international visibility that the biennial event provides was under the umbrella of the Presidency of
them, a considerable number of domestic companies highlighted Defense Industries of the Presidency of the
their capabilities, showcasing the progress that the indigenous Republic, and with the support of the Turkish
defence industry has made in recent years. Defense and Aviation Industry Exporters

22 | April 2022 WWW .GBP .COM.SG/ ADT