Deputy Emir inaugurates Dimdex 2018
نائب الأمير يفتتح معرض ومؤتمر الدوحة الدولي السادس للدفاع البحري

DOHA: Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday inaugurated the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (Dimdex 2018) at the Qatar National Convention Center.

The exhibition is held under the patronage of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and is organised by Qatar Armed Forces. More than 60 countries are participating in Dimdex 2018. At least 11 warships from seven participating countries docked at Hamad Port.

The opening ceremony was attended by a number of ministers of defence, chiefs of staff and military leaders from various countries along with a number of ambassadors accredited to the State of Qatar, members of the Qatari armed forces and other guests.

Dimdex 2018 is celebrating its 10th anniversary, under the theme of “World-Class Platform for Technology, Maritime & Defence Industry Capabilities.”

Delivering opening speech, the Commander of Qatar Emiri Naval Force, Major General Abdullah bin Hassan Al Sulaiti said that the State of Qatar has always been cooperating with various countries to stabilise the situation.

The country has always been playing an important role in facing the emerging challenges, and has always been striving to unite the efforts of navies since that is of great importance to and great impact on regional and global security.

Al Sulaiti concluded his speech thanking H H the Emir, as under his wise guidance, the standards of the sixth edition of Dimdex exceeded all previous editions, adding that this meeting is a clear-cut demonstration that Qatar continues to support global security and stability in cooperation with all countries order to achieve these goals.

During the opening ceremony, the Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani watched a film presenting the most important facilities of Barzan holdings company for military industries, in addition to the future projects that the company seeks to establish to strengthen military capabilities and local expertise in the field of military equipment industry.

The Deputy Emir also toured Dimdex 2018 during which he was briefed on the maritime defence equipment of the participating companies, the techniques and modern equipment in defence capabilities, maritime security and military manufacturing of maritime shipbuilding companies, manufacturing and supplying companies of navigational technology systems, communication systems, radars, missiles and maritime mines, defence systems, electronic warfare and other maritime industries and services.

Nasser Hassan Al Naimi, Managing Director of Barzan Holdings, strategic partner of Dimdex 2018, said that Barzan Holdings comprises of three key pillars including investing in defence and security companies, research and development, and participating in strategic military forces procurement.

After the speeches, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs H E Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah presented H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani with a ceremonial shield.

In a press statement on the sidelines of the event, Al Sulaiti said that Qatar Emiri Naval Forces play an important and essential role in the Qatari regional water operations, pointing out that the naval forces’ weapons and equipment have been developed and modernised in recent years to keep pace with scientific development and technological progress by providing naval forces with the latest equipment and weapons within the framework of the overall strategic plan of the General Command of the Qatari Armed Forces.

He also added that the large number of participants in the Dimdex reflects the great confidence in Qatar, its political leadership and its role in supporting international and regional stability and establishing peace in the region.

Meanwhile, Director General of Public Security Staff Major General Saad bin Jassem Al Khulaifi said Qatar is one of the pivotal states in the region and has a major role and tangible partnership with alliance states in combating terrorism and drying up its sources, which is the general direction of the State in all its levels.

Al Khulaifi said that “organising this event comes as part of promoting the defense and security abilities of the State of Qatar and the sisterly countries to combat terrorism and secure their maritime borders.

Al Khulaifi said: “It is a great opportunity for the Ministry of Interior to participate in, represented by the General Directorate of Coast and Border Security, and to be introduced to the latest marine security techniques and to enhance the management capabilities in securing the state’s maritime domain”.

Director-General of the General Directorate of Coast and Border Security Staff Brig, Ali Ahmed Al Badeed said that the General Directorate of Coast and Border Security’s pavilion is one of the biggest pavilions in the exhibitions. It has welcomed more than 32 delegations from different countries and showcases boats, facilities and directorate’s equipment and its latest productions of sophisticated boats. The delegations also had a chance to take a look at the technology in the equipment the directorate uses to carry out its mandated tasks, he added.

Al Badeed added that the pavilion also exhibits some of the speedboats manufactured locally and by Qatari personnel, explaining that the exhibition and conference gives a chance to the directorate to be introduced to the latest maritime equipment, and to meet those specialised from different countries, to know about their experiences and expertise in the field of maritime security.

تحت الرعاية الكريمة لحضرة صاحب السمو الشيخ تميم بن حمد آل ثاني أمير البلاد المفدى، تفضل سمو الشيخ عبدالله بن حمد آل ثاني نائب الأمير بافتتاح معرض ومؤتمر الدوحة الدولي السادس للدفاع البحري (ديمدكس 2018) بمركز قطر الوطني للمؤتمرات صباح اليوم.

حضر الافتتاح عدد من أصحاب السعادة وزراء الدفاع ورؤساء الأركان والقادة العسكريين في الدول الشقيقة والصديقة، وعدد من أصحاب السعادة السفراء المعتمدين لدى الدولة ومنتسبي القوات المسلحة القطرية وضيوف المؤتمر.

وفي البداية ألقى سعادة اللواء الركن “بحري” عبدالله بن حسن السليطي قائد القوات البحرية الأميرية القطرية كلمة أكد فيها أن دولة قطر كانت ولا تزال تعمل على الدوام بالتعاون مع مختلف الدول على تثبيت حالة الاستقرار والقيام بدور مهم في مواجهة التحديات الناشئة، وأنها تسعى لتوحيد الجهود بين البحريات، لما في ذلك من أهمية كبيرة وتأثير بالغ على الأمن الإقليمي والعالمي.

وبيّن سعادة قائد القوات البحرية الأميرية القطرية أن قطر استطاعت بفضل التوجيهات الحكيمة لحضرة صاحب السمو أمير البلاد المفدى تجاوز أحلك الظروف التي تمر بها الدولة، مضيفاً بأن اجتماع اليوم برهان قاطع على أن قطر مستمرة في مسيرتها في دعم الأمن والاستقرار العالمي بالتعاون مع جميع الدول الشقيقة والصديقة في سبيل تحقيق هذه الأهداف.

كما شهد سمو نائب الأمير خلال الافتتاح عرض فيلم عن أهم منشآت شركة برزان القابضة للصناعات العسكرية، بالإضافة إلى المشاريع المستقبلية التي تسعى الشركة لإقامتها في إطار تعزيز القدرات العسكرية والخبرات المحلية في مجال صناعة المعدات العسكرية.

عقب ذلك، قام سمو نائب الأمير بجولة في معرض “ديمدكس 2018” اطلع خلالها على التجهيزات الدفاعية البحرية للشركات المشاركة، والتقنيات والمعدات الحديثة في قدرات الدفاع والأمن البحري والتصنيع الحربي من شركات بناء السفن البحرية وشركات صناعة وتزويد الأنظمة التكنولوجية الملاحية وأنظمة الاتصالات والرادارات والصواريخ والألغام البحرية وأنظمة الدفاع والحرب الإلكترونية وغيرها من الصناعات والخدمات البحرية.