North Africa’s strong defense spending will reach USD 31 billion by 2020, emphasizing the commitment to regional security and national resilience, industry experts announced at the International Conference for Security and National Resilience (ISNR Abu Dhabi 2016) which was last week (15-17 March).

Demonstrating the strong business opportunities, defense spending by the five North African countries will increase by double digits over the next five years, when it will represent more than half of the total African market, according to research firm IHS.

In particular, Egypt’s defense spending will grow by 12-18% per year by 2020, supporting security and critical national infrastructure projects, according to IHS.

Across 20,000 square meters of net indoor exhibition space, ISNR 2016 hosted five exhibitions, two conferences and over 60 seminars, and dozens of live events, simulations, workshops, and new solution launches.

Organizers saw strong interest from North African exhibitors, buyers, and visitors, with confirmed buyers including the Egyptian Ministry of Defence and representatives from the Moroccan Ministry of Interior.

Meanwhile, the UAE Ministry of Interior (MoI) and the Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters have signed AED 391,122,304 worth of contracts (US$ 107 million) on the second day of ISNR Abu Dhabi 2016.

The announcement was made by Major General Ahmed Nasser Al Raisi, Inspector General of the Ministry of Interior and Deputy Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee of ISNR Abu Dhabi 2016.

Major General Al Raisi noted that the contracts were signed upon the directives of Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, to acquire the best technological security devices, equipment and vehicles, and to seek qualified personnel and training services to promote the skills of the MoI staff members according to the best international standards.

Major General Al Raisi said that the MoI, represented by the General Directorate of the Federal Criminal Police, signed 5 contracts to purchase handling, detection and specialized security vehicles, for a total value of AED 26,106,574.

Major General Al Raisi added that the MoI also signed 4 supply contracts for a total value of 231,697,342 AED, notably a contract to supply, install and operate tools, equipment, software, training, and maintenance of e-Ports projects with Electronic Identity Management and Security Solution (EIMASS) worth 187,800,342 AED; two contracts with Atlas Communication worth 43,897,000 to supply, install, and operate the main station, base stations of Tetra System, with the training; and to supply, install, and operate visual communications network (LTE) and supply wireless devices. The MoI also signed a contract with Bin Salmeen Computers and Office Supplies, worth 6,494,455 AED to supply, install, and operate CCTV cameras on the digital network system.

The Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters announced the signing of 11 contracts, for a total value of 127,318,388 AED, including: four contracts with Electronic Identity Management and Security Solution (EIMASS); one to separate the MoI’s and Emirates Identity Authority (EIAD) fingerprint databases; two contracts for iris recognition devices maintenance and technical support for central and supporting locations; one contract to implement a new system to connect all operating systems in the country’s different ports, for a total value of 44,683,694 AED.

The Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters signed three contracts with Emirates Solutions for Integrated Security (ESIS), to design, and supply three GIS mobile labs, and provide technical support and software for the operations rooms’ systems (IDS, STORM), as well as providing consultancy services in the field of security GIS systems worth 36,272,159 AED; and two contracts with Atlas Communications to renovate the wireless network (Tetra) worth 19,158,948 AED; and a contract with Emirates Photo Marketing, Abu Dhabi Branch, to supply the ink for the driving licenses and registrations for the Federal Traffic and Licensing system, worth 5,074,460 AED.