Bahrain. 28 October 2019. On behalf of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Royal Highness, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain inaugurated on Monday the second edition of the Bahrain International Defence Exhibition & Conference (BIDEC).
Held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, this year’s BIDEC attracted over 200 companies showcasing the latest defence technology and innovation.
Upon arrival, HRH the Crown Prince was welcomed by the Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF), HE Field Marshal Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa; Defence Affairs Minister, HE Lieutenant-General Abdullah bin Hassan Al Nuaimi; BDF’s Chief of Staff, HE Lieutenant-General Theyab bin Saqer Al Noaimi; National Security Advisor, Royal Guard Commander and the Head of the High Organising Committee of BIDEC, HH Major-General Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa; HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, as well as a number of senior guests attending BIDEC.
HRH the Crown Prince highlighted Bahrain’s ongoing success in hosting international events, including BIDEC, and underscored the importance of strengthening global defence coordination. He noted that security challenges call for concerted efforts to continue to develop the use of emerging technology in the military. HRH the Crown Prince also said that Bahrain will continue to work alongside its international partners to strengthen regional and global security, recognizing that these partnerships continue to enhance the BDF’s combat readiness.
HRH the Crown Prince underscored Bahrain’s efforts in providing an environment which stimulates creativity and promotes innovation across key sectors; creating new opportunities for citizens and helping the Kingdom achieve its sustainable development goals. He commented on the positive effects of innovation, such as strengthening economic competitiveness and spurring job creation across key sectors, in line with the principles of sustainability, competitiveness, and fairness enshrined within Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030.
To further this point, HRH the Crown Prince noted that up skilling the military remains a key component of HM King Hamad’s directives to further expand Bahrain’s military readiness. In this regard, HRH the Crown Prince outlined HM the King’s strong support to the BDF, which continues to ensure its combat readiness and efficiency.
HRH the Crown Prince concluded by expressing his pride in the BDF for their efforts in hosting another successful BIDEC, and reserved special praise for HH Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa for his efforts in particular.
