Representing
Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, some of the companies
exhibiting at this year’s show include:
•
In Aerospace: Griffon Aerospace, TLD Group, NP Aerospace
and Hawker Pacific, offering aerospace vehicle manufacture,
ground support, personal protection and aviation sales.
•
In Land Defence: Jordan Light Vehicle Manufacturing exhibiting
its range of light combat and transport vehicles. Headline
sponsors of IDEX, Tawazun Holding, a government-owned
company designed to diversify the national economy into
a wide range of industrial and commercial ventures, and
its related subsidiaries such as Caracal International,
and Tawazun Advanced Defence Systems.
•
In Naval Defence: Abu Dhabi Ship Building a world-class
ship builder, specialising in the construction, repair,
refit, and upgrade of naval, military and commercial vessels,
Abu Dhabi Mar specialising in the building and refitting
of yachts, Stellar Composites specialising in consumer
and defence vessels, and Ocean Power International, suppliers
of Thordon Bearings.
Commenting on the regional presence at this year’s
show, Mohamed Al Mashgouni, IDEX 2011 Show Director, said:
“We are seeing an emerging role for Arab nations
in the defence sector; while this region is still investing
heavily on importing technologies, the manufacturing and
supply capabilities in the region, have also ramped up
in the last few years. In line with this, nearly 10 percent
of our exhibitors at this edition are from the region
- providing a strong backdrop for this year’s show.
Exhibitors from the Arab world, will therefore definitely,
be among the ones to watch this year”.
IDEX is being held under the patronage of His Highness
Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE,
from 20th – 24th February 2011. It is organised
by ADNEC (Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company) in association
with the UAE Armed Forces GHQ.
Although
supply capabilities have increased, demand for products
by Arab Nations from domestic and international suppliers,
is still predicted to be one of the highest globally.
According to recent research by Frost & Sullivan,
the GCC and Jordan defence budget is expected to hit US$68Bn
(Dh249 billion) in 2011, growing to around $80 billion
by 2015. Overall defence spending in the Middle East is
also expected to cross US$100Bn by 2015.
Strong economic growth, continuing regional security concerns
and the desire to develop indigenous capabilities through
the use of offset programmes are driving the demand and
strong growth projections for the region in the run up
to IDEX and NAVDEX 2011.
