AHMED Al-Khateeb, Chairman of Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), visited the company’s stand at the Armed Forces Exhibition for Diversity of Requirements and Capabilities (AFED 2018), following his participation in a seminar during the activities accompanying the exhibition. The SAMI booth showcases the company’s most prominent products and services across its four business divisions, and received senior officials and high-profile visitors from the military industry and other related and supporting sectors in Saudi Arabia and globally.

Speaking at a seminar titled “Saudi Vision 2030 and the challenges of transition to the industrial economy,” Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al Qasabi, Minister of Commerce and Investment; Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Chairman of Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI); Dr. Ismael Demir, Undersecretary for Defense Industries in Turkey; Lt. Gen. Fayad bin Hamid Al-Ruwaili, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Saudi Armed Forces; and Dr. Khalid bin Saleh Al-Sultan, Rector of King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals, presented their visions and ideas on possible solutions to meet the challenges of Saudi Arabia’s transition to the industrial economy, and ways to strengthen local manufacturing.

AFED 2018 activities witnessed the participation of Dr. Andreas Schwer, CEO of SAMI, where he reviewed the company’s achievements across its four main divisions: Aeronautics, which includes manned tactical/combat rotorcrafts, transport aircraft, UAVs, and aeronautical structures; Land Systems, which includes wheeled and tracked armored tactical vehicles, logistics vehicles, turret systems, protection systems, and UGVs; Weapons and Missiles, including missiles and guided weapons, launchers, conventional weapons / guns, and ammunition; and Defense Electronics, which includes radar and microwave, opto-electronics, communication systems, electronic warfare, C4I, cyberwarfare, and naval combat systems.

Dr. Schwer stated that SAMI is keen to be among the top 25 military industries companies in the world by 2030, by combining the latest technologies and the best national talent to develop military products and services at par with international standards, thereby promoting self-sufficiency of the Kingdom.

“We are working on the rehabilitation of local factories and creation of investment opportunities for the private sector in the field of military industries to join the supply chains of international companies, which will in turn direct a contribution of around SAR 14 billion to the Kingdom’s GDP by 2030, and lead to the creation of around 40,000 job opportunities for Saudi youth by that year,” added Dr. Schwer.

SAMI is one of the most prominent participants at AFED 2018, exhibiting at booth 421, where activities will continue until 3rd March 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays, and from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday. — SG