The Saudi Ministry of Defense, represented by the General Administration to support local manufacturing, continues its preparations for the start of the Armed Forces exhibition to support the localization of spare parts industry, to be held on February 20 to 26, 2016, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The Director General of Public Administration For Support of Local Industrialization and official spokesman of the exhibition of the Armed Forces to support the localization, Brigadier Engineer Attiya bin Saleh Al-Maliki, said that emanating from the directives of Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense to hold this exhibition, preparations are going to open it which will be the largest event in the Middle East region.

The Exhibition aims to opening channels of cooperation between the Armed Forces and the private local companies. It also aims to explore promising investment opportunities and take advantage of local capacities and capabilities and build a long-term strategic relationship between the private sector and domestic manufacturers.

The exhibition further aims at informing the private sector on the Armed Forces’ requirements of materials that can be manufactured locally.

It will seek to promote Saudization programs, establish channels of communication for planning and follow-up between the Armed Forces on one hand, and manufacturing factories, local companies, and research organizations on the other hand.

In 2012, Sabic was the Strategic Sponsor of the 6-day exhibition. Other main Sponsors in the previous edition included: Other main Sponsors for this event include: Saudi Aramco, Saline Water Conversion Corporation, Alsalam Aircraft Co., Advanced Electronics Co. (AEC), Middle East Propulsion Co. (MEPC), Aircraft Accessories & Components Co. (AC), Al Zamil Group.