Riyadh 06 Shaaban 1443 AH corresponding to March 09, 2022:

Today, Wednesday, the first edition of the "International Defense Exhibition" - the leading global event for defense and security - held under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud - may God protect him - in Riyadh, and was held over a period of 4 days, from 6 to 9 March With the participation of 600 exhibitors from 42 countries, in the presence of more than 80 military delegations, and 65,000 visitors representing 85 countries.

The Global Defense Exhibition, organized by the General Authority for Military Industries, registered military and defense procurement deals and contracts between local and international bodies with a total value of 29.7 billion Saudi riyals, reflecting the exhibition's position as a global platform for the manufacture of quality partnerships, and supporting efforts to develop defense and security industries locally and internationally.

These contracts included the manufacture of defense systems and equipment, military equipment, vehicles, ammunition and support services, as the proportion of national companies of these contracts amounted to 46% in terms of total value at 10 billion riyals, as these contracts will contribute to advancing the process of settling military industries in the Kingdom through technology transfer and local capacity building. technical and human.

The General Authority for Military Industries had worked with its partners from the beneficiary parties to study and review the contracts that were announced, as they were subject to accurate evaluation mechanisms related to the level of technical options and approved international specifications; operations, and contributes to spending efficiency.

The exhibition also witnessed the announcement of 22 localization and capacity building agreements with a number of local and international companies specialized in the military and defense industries, with a total value of industrial participation estimated at 8 billion Saudi riyals, and included a number of areas such as direct localization work for military systems and systems, and building qualitative capabilities in the targeted industrial fields, Such as building production lines, transferring and localizing technologies and services, in addition to training and qualifying national cadres and enabling them to work in the military and defense industries.

His Excellency the Governor of the General Authority for Military Industries, Engineer Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al-Ohali, expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques - may God protect him - for his generous patronage, and to His Highness the Crown Prince for honoring the exhibition, and for their unlimited support.

He also expressed his happiness with the success of the exhibition at all levels, pointing out that the results exceeded the goals set for the exhibition in its first edition, and established the exhibition's position as one of the most important defense and security exhibitions in the world, and a stimulating platform for cooperation, support for innovation and serious cooperation in partnerships that serve all parties and common opportunities.

He pointed out that the partnerships held during the exhibition herald a new era of growth for the defense and security system in the Kingdom to serve the goals of the vision to localize more than 50% of government spending on military equipment and services by 2030.

His Excellency Eng. Al-Ohali called on exhibitors, delegations and visitors to the exhibition to continue the talks that started with the exhibition on the future of the industry, support innovation and serious cooperation in partnerships that serve all parties during the coming period. and March 6, 2024.

The General Authority for Military Industries aims to expand the local military industries base in the value-added sectors, support the readiness of the Saudi armed forces, enhance the Kingdom’s strategic independence, work to provide a network of services and technical support for the military industries, and stimulate direct investment through strategic partnerships with international companies in sector, transfer of technologies and knowledge in industry, services, research and development, in addition to developing human cadres capable of working in specialized industries.

It is noteworthy that the first edition of the "International Defense Exhibition" held ministerial sessions on creativity, research and building human cadres in the military industries sector, and more than 20 sessions for leaders on the future of military industries and investment in the Kingdom, the role of women in the sector, and the Partners Meeting Program that brought together manufacturers, buyers and makers Resolution from all over the world.