Riyadh, IO – Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto attended the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Riyadh Defense Forum 2022, in Riyadh, Saturday (3/5/2022).
Seen attending the forum were defense ministers, senior military officers and officials and global business leaders from a number of countries in America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
The IISS Forum 2022 aims to study the dynamics of policymaking that drives the defense-economy trend. This year’s two main topics are regional defense economics and policies in a global context and an international defense perspective.
Among the world figure speakers at the event were the Governor of Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) H.E. Ahmad Abdulaziz Al-Ohali, Head of South Korea’s Arms Procurement Agency Kang Eun-Ho, Investment Minister at the UK Department for International Trade and Business Strategy, Energy & Industry Lord Grimstone of Boscobel Kt, Deputy Director of the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency Union Jed Royal.
This unique gathering is particularly substantial for all forum participants who want to engage in the Middle East and understand the dynamics faced by policymakers that can affect national defense, both industry-wise and capability-wise.
Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto also had the opportunity to attend the World Defense Show (WDS) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sunday (3/6/2022).
Minister Prabowo Subianto was invited by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of General Authority for Military Industries, who also inaugurated the event.
Initiated by the Governor of Saudi Arabia’s GAMI, the event took place in Riyadh from March 6-9, 2022.
The biannual exhibition focuses on future defense technology and the latest technological developments from around the world. More than 590 global companies representing 42 countries participated in the event. A number of national government agencies in defense, military, and security also took part. At the event, Saudi Arabia demonstrated their defense ecosystem and capabilities and presented global defense and business innovations.
While attending the 2022 World Defense Show, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto paid a courtesy visit to the United Arab Emirates’ Minister of State for Defense Affairs H.E. Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi, Sunday (3/6/2022).
In the meeting, the two ministers discussed the development of defense cooperation between both countries, including in the defense industry and education, as a follow-up to the defense cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Indonesian Defense Ministry and the UAE Defense Ministry signed in February 2020 in Abu Dhabi, and the Joint Defense Cooperation Plan (JDCP) meeting as the implementation of the MoU.
Scope of defense cooperation between the two countries agreed upon in the MoU include cooperation in science and technology in the defense industry, capacity-building, including human resources, and the exchange of information and views related to the interests of both countries in terms of defense and security.
In the defense industry sector, cooperation between Indonesia and the UAE has been established between PT Pindad and Caracal, to manufacture various weapons, as agreed in May 2021. Several other Indonesian defense industry companies are exploring opportunities for cooperation with industries in the UAE.
In the education area, one UAE student has attended Seskoal (Navy Staff and Command School) this year, and more will join in coming years. Reciprocally, the UAE also offers an opportunity to send Indonesian students to study at Rabdan Academy, which offers degrees in safety, security, defense, emergency preparedness and crisis management. (eka)