IDEX and NAVDEX close 2021 exhibition with historic agreements
The International Defence Exhibition Organising Committee (IDEX) and Maritime Defence (NAVDEX) 2021 announced the end of its fifteenth session in Abu Dhabi. It was held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) under the patronage of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, and lasted five days from 21-25 February.
The 2021 session, which was well attended locally and internationally, by IDEX and NAVDEX closes with "historic" agreements in an extraordinary session, according to the closing communiqué of the two exhibitions.
The exhibition has received a remarkable success in attendance, becoming the first global event specialising in the defence sector to open during the revival of COVID-19. It was attended by more than 62,000 visitors and attracted 900 exhibitors from 59 countries. The number of national pavilions increased to 35 and Israel, North Macedonia, Luxembourg, Portugal and Azerbaijan participated for the first time in the history of the exhibition.
During the closing day's activities, the value of the final deals concluded with foreign and local companies during the five days of the exhibitions was announced at Dh20.967 billion ($5.7 billion). The value of the fifth and final day amounted to 904.2 million dirhams (about $246.2 million) spread over 20 deals, 15 local and 5 international.
The closing of the exhibition was attended by Major General Staff Pilot Faris Khalaf al-Mazrouei, Commander-in-Chief of Abu Dhabi Police, Chairman of the Senior Organising Committee of the IDEX and NAVDEx exhibitions, and Staff Pilot General Ishaq Saleh.
In addition to the attendance of Mohammed al-Balushi, deputy undersecretary for Defence Industries and Capabilities Development at the Ministry of Defence, vice chairman of the Supreme Committee, and Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, director general and CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Company (ADNEC) and its group of companies.
Staff Pilot Major General Faris Khalaf al-Mazrouei noted that "this year we witnessed the convening of an exceptional session of IDEX and NAVDEX exhibitions" which managed to establish its position as an integrated platform that attracted thousands of attendees despite the circumstances and challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Major General al-Mazrouei added that "the unlimited support of the wise leaders and their confidence in the ability of their people to organise and host the world here in Abu Dhabi" were some of the reasons for the success we have seen over the past five days.
He also noted: "Today we begin a new chapter in the lessons of leadership, as the year 2021 brings us closer to celebrating the golden jubilee of the UAE Federation, this union that built its defence and technology system and used it to spread the message of safety, security and peace in the region".
Al Dhaheri added that the satisfaction rate of visitors and exhibitors with IDEX and NAVDEX reached 96 per cent, which is considered one of the highest in the world in the exhibition and conference industry. ADNEC's preventive protocols and precautionary measures have also won the approval of visitors, exhibitors and exhibition and conference industry specialists.