Egypt's military is set to hold its first defence exhibition – Egypt Defense Expo (EDEX) – in December 2018, the armed forces announced at a press conference on Monday. The event will take place from 3 to 5 December at the Cairo International Convention Centre, with several major exhibitors and international companies in the fields of weapons, defense and security displaying their products and services. The event will be the first of its kind in Egypt or any other African nation, and will include high-tech defence systems from around the world, as well as Egyptian-made military hardware, according to the official statement. The exhibition is being organised in cooperation with Clarion Events, which puts on defence and security events at which high-level government officials and senior military personnel converge. More than 300 exhibitors are expected to present their systems, with 10,000 visitors expected over three days. There will also be a conferences program attended by senior military figures. Egypt's Minister of Military Production Mohamed El-Assar said the nation's political leadership is supporting the event with a view to ensuring it is prominent among similar events globally. Egypt's military, meanwhile, will provide all the necessary facilities to ensure its success, reflecting the Egyptian military's regional status, he said. The exhibition will be held every two years, said El-Assar, providing an opportunity to display Egyptian military products, as well as those from foreign, Arab, and African countries, helping to extend markets and exchange viewpoints. General Tarek Saad Zaghloul, head of the Armed Forces Arming Authority, said the exhibition is a unique monument to defense and military production and an important opportunity for companies and visitors worldwide. He said that due to Egypt's strategic geographical location, the exhibition marks a paradigm shift for the region and neighboring countries, showcasing the latest weapons technologies and associated manufacturing operations. The general elaborated that due to Egypt's policy of sourcing armaments from diverse sources, the exhibition will include a wide range of military products from regional and international companies, promoting good relations between the various participants. Clarion's managing director Tim Porter gave a presentation during the press conference, saying that the exhibition will provide a great opportunity for companies from both Egypt and abroad. “Clarion Ltd is pleased to be given the chance to expand in its field by holding the exhibition in Egypt in 2018. We look forward to executing this important event in cooperation with the Egyptian armed forces,” Porter concluded.
