*Italian Defence Minister Roberta Pinotti to attend Dimdex 2018
The defence and security co-operation between Qatar and Italy has highly broadened and growing steadily since the signing of the bilateral General Defence Agreement in 2010, both on a political and institutional level as well as in the field of training and joint exercises, Italian ambassador Pasquale Salzano told Gulf Times.
The envoy said that such achievement falls within the broader framework of an enhanced co-operation and political dialogue between the two countries, demonstrated by the exceptional number of recent Ministerial visits from Italy.
“We shall keep moving in this direction. This more than any words, demonstrates our commitment to bring forward the existing partnership and co-operation for the peace and security in the region,” Salzano stressed.
In the last eight months, he noted that five Italian Ministers, including the Italian Prime Minister, visited Doha.
The Italian Defence Minister Roberta Pinotti was in Qatar last October and met with HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani to review areas of joint co-operation especially in the military fields.
Pinotti will pay her second visit to the country on the occasion of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (Dimdex) 2018, which will run until March 14.
Salzano said Qatar is also committed to further enhance its defence capabilities and Italy is a reliable hi-tech partner, citing the Italian Navy and Italian Shipbuilding sector’s longstanding tradition and excellent reputation worldwide.
“Thanks to their capacity to masterly integrate skillful professionals, cutting edge technology as well as unique industrial design,” he pointed out.
“The excellence of the Italian defence industry will be showcased at Dimdex 2018, with top-level Italian companies: AIAD, Benelli Armi Spa, Beretta, Elettronica, Fincantieri, Gem, Intermarine, Leonardo e MBDA,” the envoy said.
According to Salzano, cyber defense and cyber security are another key areas of mutual interests.
Dimdex 2018 will witness two Italian companies, Leonardo and Elettronica, world leaders in these fields, participating at the exhibition.
The envoy said these Italian companies are ready to contribute to Qatar’s development projects and “have always been partners to Dimdex.”
“This year we are proud to have the Italian shipbuilding Group Fincantieri as the diamond sponsor of the event,” Salzano noted, citing the presence of Italian frigate Carlo Margottini, the third of the European Multi-role Frigates Class, built at the Fincantieri Shipyards.
About the exhibition, he said: “Dimdex is a key appointment for the Italian Navy and the Italian maritime defence industry to share their latest technological developments and cutting edge operational capabilities with Qatar and with international partners.”
“With such a rich agenda, including exhibitions, joint exercises, conferences and high-level talks, Dimdex offers a unique platform to address in an integrated manner all the main aspects of our maritime defense,” the envoy added.
