Britain is determined to develop
its political, economic and
defence partnership with the
UAE, according to Lord Drayson, the
Minister for Defence Procurement. In an
interview during the IDEX 2007 show,
held between 18th - 22nd February,
Drayson said that he expected that the
"already deep-rooted bilateral relations
maintained in all spheres" would see
further development.
Drayson held talks during his visit
with His Highness General Sheikh
Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan,
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and
Deputy Supreme Commander of the
UAE Armed Forces, on bilateral cooperation
and also met with senior
officials of Abu Dhabi's Mubadala.
Britain was ready, Drayson said, to
transfer to the UAE the technology and
scientific research that the UAE needed
for the process of its own economic and
educational development.
He also noted, with approval, that
Caracal International LLC, the first
UAE company to specialise in the small
arms manufacturing industry, was now
seeking to enter the British market.
Over 40 British companies took part
in this year's IDEX exhibition, held last
February, underlining their commitment to
continuing to do business with the UAE.
Together, they made up one of the largest
overseas contingents at the show.
Led by Drayson, the official British
team at IDEX included Alan Garwood,
Head of Defence Export Services, and
Air Vice-Marshal Gavin Mackay, the
Minister's Senior Military Adviser in the
Defence Export Services Organisation
(DESO) which provides government
assistance to both British industry and
to its overseas customers. The UK
pavilion, organised by the Defence
Manufacturers Association (DMA),
had 44 companies represented, while
DESO ran another stand promoting
products from another 31 companies.
There was also a British Army display
area manned by soldiers from the
Export Support Team. With the theme
"Peace Support Operations and
Humanitarian Aid", the British display
area promoted a range of equipment
covering digital communications
and mapping, battlefield situation
awareness and force protection (both
personal and infrastructure).
Other British companies were also
present with their own stands, including
BAE Systems (see separate story),
and Meggitt Defence, while Selex and
Agusta Westland were present on the
Finmeccanica stand. There were also
strong showings from other companies,
including Thales UK, MBDA UK and
Heckler & Koch UK. On show were a
range of capabilities, including satellite
communications, combat engineering,
counter battery radars, night vision
equipment, electronic warfare and
chemical, biological, radiological and
nuclear protection systems.
The theme throughout the show
was one of partnering with the UAE,
with one useful development being the
holding of discussions between British
and Emirati companies, such as Abu
Dhabi Shipbuilding, on joint venture
projects. Some results will, we hope,
be apparent by IDEX 2009, when, once
again, British firms plan to make a
strong showing.
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