ABU DHABI – Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum inaugurated the 10th International Defence Exhibition and Conference, IDEX 2011, on Sunday.
General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi, was also present. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said Abu Dhabi’s IDEX was gaining prominence and wider acclaim among the countries and companies producing weapons and defence equipments, as the event provide them a window to look at markets in the region. He said the exhibition also represented a platform for local, regional, as well as international arms manufacturers to showcase their latest products and defence technologies.
Maktoum said the exhibition would allow the countries of the region, the Middle East and North Africa the opportunity to view these modern defence products and procure them through commercial transactions taking place in the exhibition every year.
“We in the UAE do not look at IDEX or Dubai Airshow as two platforms for arms race in the region, as some claim, but see them purely in terms of trade, tourism and technology, because of the diversity in attendance and participation in these events, which have gained international fame and earned great confidence among the exhibitors and consumers,” he added.
He said this made the UAE a meeting place for people of various races and a gateway between east and west, not to mention the experience and knowledge which the men of their armed forces and police gained through mixing with experts who arrived from all over the world.
He was of the opinion that IDEX has achieved high momentum, development and the volume of demand from countries, companies, factories and individuals demonstrated its success, strength and quality and it positioned itself as an event of economic and tourism importance, as well as created an opportunity for cross-cultural understanding.
“We in the UAE, both the people and the leaders, are proud of the reputable status of our country and its well established position on the regional and international levels. We are also proud of our young people as well as their competencies and expertise in various sectors that make them worthy of our confidence as leaders and are able to assume their responsibilities in business leadership and the tasks entrusted to them,” he added.
The IDEX 2011 is being showcased under the kind patronage of the UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from February 20-24.
