Gulf defense, aerospace exhibition boosts Kuwait leadership vision
Event assists in realizing the Kuwait Vision 2035
KUWAIT: Over 130 companies from 20 countries are participating in the Gulf Defense and Aerospace Exhibition and Conference at Kuwait International Fairground in Mishref from Dec 12-14, 2017. Justin Webb, President of TNT Productions, said all four editions of this major event have been held in Kuwait. “This is the largest of the four editions, and has grown by over 30 percent from the previous edition,” he said during the opening ceremony.
The exhibition strives to assist in realizing the Kuwait Vision 2035 to develop Kuwait into a business, trade and commercial hub. “Bringing these international companies helps achieve this goal. The event attracts most of the world’s leading private defense manufacturers who will meet members of the GCC and other regional armed forces and help in transforming Kuwait into modern financial, business and trade center,” Webb said.
In addition to commercial displays of latest cuttingedge defense technologies, the exhibition also features a large display of defense technologies that are currently in use by the ministry of defense. Such exhibitions are very transparent and everyone can see the kind of products that the ministry of defense is trying to acquire to keep people safe,” explained Webb.
Brig Gen Ali Al-Shanfa, Assistant Chief of Staff of the Supply Department, noted that part of the objective of this large display is to showcase to the people of Kuwait that the government has invested and is still investing in the world’s most modern defense technologies. “Most defense exhibitions take place in Turkey or Dubai, and today we have it in Kuwait. Kuwait is always participating in any event that aims for peace and defense. Some of the commercial companies participating in this year’s event are worldwide industry leaders, including Eurofighter Typhoon, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Company, MBAD Missile Systems, Textron Systems Corporation, Lurssen Shipbuilding, Aselsan, and many others,” he pointed out.
“Furthermore, we hope that young Kuwaitis who are considering their future careers will be able to visit the expo and may decide to join the Kuwait Armed Forces, as it’s a highly professional organization, and they would be training and using the most modern defense equipment. They will also have the opportunity to speak directly to members of the army who are experts in using these equipment, and who will encourage them to join the army,” concluded Shanfa.
International leading defense manufacturers are participating in this event from Kuwait, US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Bulgaria, China, Canada, Denmark, Kazakhstan, Korea, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden and Turkey, which has a large pavilion.
The interior ministry is participating in this expo. “The ministry is displaying some of the equipment that we are using. This event is an opportunity for experts in the field to view our machines and equipment and exchange experiences. Having all these participants in one place saves effort and time to travel to other places. This event also serves the economy of Kuwait, and brings various public institutions together in one place to exchange their experiences. We are here to strengthen national security. Our officials will visit the expo during these three days to check their needs, based on which they can place orders,” said Interior Ministry Undersecretary Maj Gen Mahmoud Al-Dossari. The exhibition’s opening hours 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on Wednesday and 10:00 am to 3:00 pm on Thursday.