By Sidi Mohamed
DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will open the 5th edition of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition (Dimdex) at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) this
morning.
The three-day event, which lasts until Thursday is being organised by the Qatar Armed Forces.
The exhibition will cover an area of 25,000 square metres, while the previous edition of the expo covered only 15,000 square metres.
At a press conference held yesterday by the Dimdex organising committee, Brig Dr (Eng) Thani A Al Kuwari, Chairman of Dimdex, said: “Over 58 countries from around the world are participating in the exhibition, and over 9,000 maritime, security and defence industry-related visitors, in addition to 180 international and local companies, among them 20 percent Qatari companies, showcasing the latest technologies to meet maritime security challenges”.
Defence ministers from several countries, including France and the UK, are going to attend the event, in addition to 20 naval commanders and 10 Chiefs of Staff, he said.
Qatar Armed Forces is expected to sign some deals on the sidelines of the exhibition.
Eight warships from as many as seven countries arrived at the Doha Port early yesterday to be part of the event.
During a media trip which lasted three hours at sea, reporters witnessed the reception of the first two of these warships such as those from Morocco, India and Pakistan.
Actually, 20 warships were expected to take part in the event but due to the fact that many had other engagements from before they did not arrive, according to the organising committee.
The exhibition covers a wide range of maritime defence sectors including anti-piracy diving and underwater operations and vehicles, maritime awareness and technology, naval aviation and more.
On the sidelines of the exhibition, a conference of naval commanders will be held tomorrow to discusses regional challenges and Marine Environment.
The DIMDEX is considered the largest specialised naval defence and maritime security exhibition in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, and held every two years.
Country pavilions at the exhibition will include those from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Pakistan, besides Qatar, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the UK and the US.
Most of the companies that will be exhibiting their products and services at the exhibition are from Turkey and France, said Brigadier Al Kuwari.
The Peninsula
