The final numbers will emerge only after the event concludes, but if one were to judge from the range of advanced technological capabilities on display and the number of visitors, DIMDEX 2024 is already an unqualified success.
Even as the ongoing edition enters the final day, the significant takeaways have been the coming of age of Qatar’s domestic defence industry and the growing trend of companies focusing on unmanned assets as militaries increasingly try to keep personnel away from harm.
Booths of domestic companies such as Performance Marine, Bayanat Engineering, Milaha, and Eligroup MENA have seen plenty of activity, but the spotlight has firmly been on Barzan Holdings and its entities. The collection of unmanned service vehicles (USVs), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) integrated systems by the company’s Engineering and Systems team, Barzan Industrial Group’s locally manufactured modular weapons, high-quality small calibre ammunition by Barood, and portable weapon systems by BINDIG have showcased the best of Qatar’s indigenous defence industry to an audience that includes defence ministers from other countries, chiefs of staff, naval commanders, other decision-makers and representatives of major international companies.
The Chinese pavilion is not the biggest, but the range of products being showcased by companies such as Norinco and Poly Technologies is proof of the pace at which the country’s defence industry has grown. As in the previous edition, the event has provided a platform for the Turkish defence industry to flex its muscle, with several companies from the country showcasing new-age products. Not surprisingly, the Turkish contingent comprising about 40 companies is the largest at the show, not just in terms of the number of companies but also the range of products on display. The companies have come into the event with plenty of momentum, with the country’s defence and aerospace exports registering an increase of 12% in the first two months of the year.
The impressive turnout at the Middle East Naval Commanders (MENC) Conference on Tuesday and the high-level deliberations on “Economic Growth Prospects Amidst Security Challenges and Their Global Impact” underlined Qatar’s commitment to enhancing maritime security and defence. The recommendations from the conference will form the backbone of the ever-evolving maritime security strategy for the region.
The nine international pavilions and the presence of the highest-ever number of international exhibitors have as much to do with DIMDEX’s stellar track record of providing exhibitors ample opportunities for commercial success as Qatar is one of the major arms importers in the world. With the country investing in military modernisation, international companies sense a major opportunity to sell systems, either on their own or in new partnerships with the local defence industry. In the 2022 edition, 32 deals, including partnerships, agreements, memoranda of understanding (MoU) and letters of intent (LoI), were signed. Judging by the hectic activity on the first two days of the show and the range of capabilities on the show, the final numbers will be just as impressive, if not better.
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