Defence expo begins today in Bahrain
Manama : The Bahrain International Defence Exhibition & Conference (BIDEC) will commence today at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre (BIECC) with over 3,000 delegates, mostly military, political and strategic international experts participating in the event.
Held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Supreme Commander, the BIDEC will conclude on Wednesday and will introduce over 180 entities, representing leading international establishments in the field of military industries.
“The expo is part of strengthening the Kingdom of Bahrain as a centre for entrepreneurship and as an attractive environment for the exhibition industry in the region,” said Commander of Bahrain Royal Guard and BIDEC Chairman His Highness Brigadier Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
“The Kingdom, under the patronage of HM the King, would benefit from hosting such a major international event by reflecting the aspirations of our wise leadership, and demonstrating Bahrain’s competitive advantage as a forum for cultures and civilisations and a place of dialogue and peace,” he said.
HH Shaikh Nasser said that the exhibition is one of the first comprehensive international defence exhibitions and conferences in the region, covering land, sea and air, and brings together top leaders and military experts and representatives of major manufacturers of military defence equipment and systems in one location.
His Highness Shaikh Nasser also said that the exhibition acts as a regional platform that will bring together the world’s best defence and security organisations to network with governments and military personnel, and to showcase the latest technologies and equipment in the field.
HH Shaikh Nasser added that there are 115 platforms in the exhibition that will attract decision-makers from governments, armies and defence industries from more than 60 countries, with more than 20 expert speakers from around the world participating in it.
The conference will begin at the Four Seasons Hotel in Bahrain Bay in the Capital tonight. It’s organised by Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) and the Middle East Military Alliances and Coalitions (MEMAC) in cooperation with the Bahrain Center for Strategic and International Studies and Energy (DERASAT). The conference sessions will be held on the second day at the BIECC and will discuss critical issues related to military alliances in the region.
Coalitions and Alliances
The conference is organised in partnership and participation of the Islamic Military Counter-Terrorism Coalition, the Arab Coalition Forces to Support Legitimacy in Yemen, and participants from major international military alliances such as NATO and UN Peacekeeping, as well as representatives of leading international think tanks.
The conference aims to shed light on the integral role of military alliances in combating extremist terrorist organisations such as Daesh, Hezbollah, Yemeni revolutionary groups and others that threaten global security and stability.
The approach will highlight the nexus between politics, diplomacy and military action. In addition, sessions will focus on the challenges facing Joint Operations and Central Command structures and the political and diplomatic constraints to creating an equitable and effective collective defence mechanism.
The conference will also highlight the importance of military alliances, and it offers an opportunity to exchange ideas, views and strategic visions of participating alliances, and to discuss the latest regional and international security and military developments.
To boost position
Speaking at a press conference held yesterday held as part of the expo, DERASAT Chairman and MEMAC Shaikh Abdulla in Ahmed Al Khalifa pointed that hosting such a key international event in the Kingdom boosts its strategic position in the region and its key role in the efforts to combat terrorism worldwide.
“This international conference examines two main aspects, which are the strategic political perspective of military alliances and the military operational perspective. It represents a global platform for exchanging ideas and opinions on security and military developments in the regional and international arenas. The participation of the Arab Coalition Forces to Support Legitimacy in Yemen and the Islamic Military Coalition to Counter Terrorism under the leadership of Saudi Arabia, gives specific focus to counter terrorism and attempts to destabilise the security and stability of the countries of the region,” he said.
Bahrain Royal Guard Deputy Commander Brigadier Hamad Al Nuaimi said BIDEC comes in line with the immense threats the world is witnessing and falls within the joint international efforts to combat terrorism.
Bahrain Authority for Tourism and Exhibitions CEO Shaikh Khalid bin Humood Al Khalifa underlined that the participation of the visiting delegations would benefit the hospitality and tourism sector, commenting that “visiting delegates spend four times more than regular tourists”.
Tim Porter, Managing Director of Clarion Defence Security Clarion Events, the largest organiser of defence and security events in the world said: “As a launch event into a new market, BIDEC has surpassed our expectations across all areas, and we are expecting a fantastic turnout from visitors across three days”.
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