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RIYADH: The World Protection Present 2024 is gearing as much as be a major world occasion, and one of many key highlights is Turkiye’s debut.   

The present, scheduled for February subsequent yr, will witness the presence of 29 Turkish protection firms, making it one of many largest nation pavilions with an unlimited exhibiting area of three,229 sq. meters.   

In an interview with Arab Information, Mansour Al-Babtain, chief liaison officer for Saudi Arabia at WDS, emphasised the importance of Turkiye’s participation on the forthcoming occasion.  

He stated: “This not solely displays the expansion of WDS but in addition underscores the worldwide curiosity within the Saudi Arabian market.”  

Distinguished nations’ participation   

Al-Babtain highlighted the numerous progress within the variety of nations taking part within the present subsequent yr in comparison with the primary version.   

“WDS 2024 is ready to witness over 60 exhibiting nations, a considerable enhance of greater than 20 nations in comparison with the primary version. We’re excited to welcome first-time illustration from nations equivalent to Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Denmark, Kuwait, Oman and a number of other new African nations,” he stated.  

Al-Babtain added: “We now have additionally noticed important enlargement from returning nations, with pavilions from the Czech Republic, Greece, China, India, Switzerland, Italy and Sudan rising considerably.   

“Turkiye, in its first look, has already secured the place of the third-largest nation represented on the occasion, following China and Saudi Arabia. Notable nations like France, South Korea, the US, and the UAE have additionally dedicated to giant ground area.”  

Future Expertise program   

Discussing the Future Expertise program, Al-Babtain emphasised its essential function in offering a pipeline of younger expertise for the rising protection sector.   

He stated: “A rising sector calls for a gentle inflow of younger expertise. Consistent with Saudi’s Army Industries Human Capital Technique, our Future Expertise program serves as a platform to attach potential scientists, innovators and leaders with alternatives throughout the protection provide chain.  

“Saudi Arabia’s substantial investments in training, expertise and coaching name for companies working within the nation to align with these human functionality improvement applications.”  

He added that at WDS 2022, they efficiently linked over 5,000 college students specializing in science, know-how, engineering and arithmetic to profession alternatives and apprenticeship applications within the protection sector.  

“For WDS 2024, we’ve set an formidable goal of connecting 8,000 college students, collaborating with GAMI (Basic Authority for Army Industries) and different trade our bodies to bridge the talents hole and supply alternatives for younger Saudis,” Al-Babtain defined.  

Function of Meet the KSA Authorities Program  

Al-Babtain elaborated on the importance of the Meet the KSA Authorities program, stating: “World Protection Present was conceived by GAMI to assist the Saudi management’s imaginative and prescient of localizing 50 p.c of home protection gear and companies expenditure by 2030.   

“Our program serves as an important pathway for worldwide gamers to achieve insights into the most recent protection procurement insurance policies, procedures and processes within the Kingdom.”  

He emphasised that the Meet the KSA Authorities Program “supplies a novel alternative for members to satisfy senior authorities representatives and decision-makers chargeable for nationwide procurement. This permits for potential partnerships and collaborations inside Saudi Arabia, providing thrilling prospects for future engagements.”  

World protection trade collaboration  

Al-Babtain highlighted WDS’s function as a novel platform for the worldwide protection trade to attach and collaborate.

“WDS serves as a worldwide discussion board that brings collectively all the protection sector, spanning nations, provide chains and numerous teams. By fostering collaboration and partnership alternatives throughout know-how, intelligence and {hardware} sectors, WDS has grow to be a convener for a extra inclusive and numerous protection trade,” he stated.  

Al-Babtain added: “With exhibitors from greater than 60 nations and over 100 official delegations from 50 nations, together with commerce, media and governmental guests from the world over, the present supplies an unmatched alternative for attendees to take part in a variety of army, safety and protection displays, discussions and panels.”  

Potential funding alternatives  

Requested about potential funding alternatives from taking part within the present, Al-Babtain replied: “It’s difficult to quantify the precise extent of potential funding alternatives ensuing from the present, each within the quick and long run. Nevertheless, over the last version, we witnessed offers value SR29.6 billion ($7.9 billion) signed over the 4 days.”  

“With the present’s expanded format, that includes elevated exhibition area and a five-day period, and a bigger variety of exhibitors, the potential funding alternatives are immense and shouldn’t be ignored,” he emphasised.