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A ROARING SUCCESS







         DIMDEX 2024 showcased the event’s growth as well as

        the future of the maritime defence and security industry


                                               By  ARUN SIVASANKARAN






















        A       cross successive editions   Multilayered Growth                 local defence industry the oppor-

                                                                                tunity to interact and learn from
                of DIMDEX, there are a
                                            With the maritime defence exhibi-
                few things that participants
                                                                                sectors. We are trying to attract
        and onlookers have come to expect   tion expanded its scope to include   international companies in various
                                            other critical defence categories
        from the biennial event – an enthu-  that complement the maritime eco-  companies in different sectors such
        siastic response from exhibitors, a   system’s safety and security, many   cyber security, training, innovative
        full house, a range of new products   companies from allied defence     technologies; essentially anything
        and capabilities on display, and    sectors were at the show. The event  associated with defence. But we
        eye-catching commercial success     witnessed active participation from   will retain our identity as the lead-
        for companies attending the event.  the Qatar Armed Forces and its      ing maritime defence and security
                                            various branches. Project 401 for   exhibition in the region.”
                                            Special Operations, which fea-
        DIMDEX 2024 had all these, and      tures Special Operations Training   Eye-popping Numbers
        more.                               Centres dedicated to enhancing the
                                            capabilities of special forces and   The numbers are impressive,
        Held under the patronage of HH      counter-terrorism units globally, was   by any stretch of imagination.
                                                                                Contracts worth over QAR 5 billion
        Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani,    formally inaugurated.
        Amir of the State of Qatar, and                                         as well as several Memoranda of
                                                                                Understanding (MOUs) and Letters
        hosted and organised by the Qatar   Staff Brigadier (Sea) Abdulbaqi
        Armed Forces at the Qatar National   Al-Ansari, Chairman of the         of Intent (LoI) were signed during
                                                                                the three-day event that took place
        Convention Centre (QNCC), the       Organising Committee of DIMDEX,
        eighth edition of the event was an   was quick to reassure participants   March 4-6. The event, which had
                                                                                “Igniting the Future of Maritime
        unqualified success. Even more      and visitors that the event would
        importantly, DIMDEX2024 marked      retain its focus on the maritime    Security and Beyond” as its theme,
                                                                                saw more than 200 international
        a pivotal point in the exhibition’s
        history, one that saw it evolve into   defence and security domain. “We  and national companies, as well as
                                                                                nine international pavilions, show-
        a veritable tri-services event that   are not going to change
        showcased the latest integrated     our identity,” he says. “At the     casing their comprehensive defence
        defence capabilities.               same time, we want to give our      and maritime security solutions.
                                                                                Also taking part were 110 VIPs and
        ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY                                                           MARCH - APRIL 2024  | 29
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