Saudi military industries agree strategic deals at Paris Air Show

Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) company pavilion at the Paris Air Show 2019. (SPA)
  • GAMI governor holds talks with key executives at Thales Group, Airbus, Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon

PARIS: Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) has signed a string of strategic agreements during its visit to the Paris Air Show, the world’s largest aviation and space industry event. A delegation led by Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz Al-Ohali, GAMI’s governor, attended meetings with world leaders in the field of military industries.
Discussions focused on the Saudization of military industries, the leading role played by GAMI and the importance of the Saudization process under the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
The GAMI governor also met with the officials and leaders of Thales Group, Airbus, Boeing Defense, Space and Security, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, as well as governmental bodies and several other companies.
Al-Ohali highlighted the importance of the meetings in promoting GAMI’s strategic plans for the defense manufacturing sector.
The governor and the accompanying delegation also visited Naval Group’s Lorient shipyard, where they were briefed on the French industrial group’s defense systems.
GAMI is seeking to Saudize the industrial sector, consolidate the role of the authority, and achieve the national priorities of upgrading military readiness. It also seeks to develop a sustainable local military industrial sector, and promote transparency and efficiency of spending.

HIGHLIGHTS

● Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Military Industries has reinforced its commitment to building a robust and sustainable homegrown military industry.

● The company explores new business and investment opportunities and the possibility of forming new partnerships and agreements at the 53rd edition of the International Paris Air Show.

Earlier, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Germany, visited the Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) pavilion at the air show.

Innovation
The envoy received a detailed explanation of GAMI’s latest innovative products that could help develop the Kingdom’s military industry and its successful local and international partnerships in air systems, surface systems, weapons and missiles, and defense electronics.
During the fourth day of the air show, the GAMI pavilion welcomed key aerospace industry figures.
GAMI officials also took part in meetings and signed strategic partnerships with global businesses involved in the four areas of the company’s work — air and ground systems, weapons, missiles and defense electronics.