Tawazun, the strategic investment firm focused on the long-term development of UAE’s industrial manufacturing with a specific focus on the defense sector, and the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX), the world’s leading defence dedicated exhibition, have signed a strategic partnership agreement, aimed at strengthening cooperation at the IDEX 2015 edition and during exhibitions and conferences in the UAE and internationally.

The sponsorship agreement was signed in a ceremony held at the recent Dubai Airshow by H.E. Saif Mohamed Al Hajeri, CEO of Tawazun, and H.E. Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, Managing Director of Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Center (ADNEC).

Tawazun, who has acted as IDEX Headline Sponsor for the last three editions of IDEX, will, under the agreement, become the Strategic Partner for the most strategically important joint defence exhibition in the world. The agreement also provides for greater coordination in international defense events.

Saif Al Hajeri said the agreement paves the way for Tawazun and IDEX to intensify their cooperation and to further foster joint contribution to UAE’s economic development and to enhance the country’s global image as a top destination for global MICE industry.

“The agreement complements our role as a strategic partner to IDEX and will certainly enable us to increase our offerings towards maintaining prominence of IDEX and of the exhibitions and conferences industry in the UAE within the global marketplace,” he added.

H.E. Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri: “We are pleased to have Tawazun as the key strategic partner for the world’s leading defence dedicated exhibition. Tawazun has achieved international milestones within the defence industry, and we’re confident that this strategic partnership will add significant value for both entities.”

Since its establishment in 2007, Tawazun has been actively involved in all IDEX exhibitions and conferences, assuming the role of Headline Sponsor. Tawazun and IDEX also participated in several international exhibitions under the UAE pavilion.

IDEX is organised by the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company in coordination with the UAE Armed Forces GHQ. IDEX 2013 was the largest event in its two decade history, with 80,000 visitors attending the event that hosted 1,112 exhibiting companies from 59 countries.

One of IDEX’s offerings is the Naval Defence Exhibition (NAVDEX) which is run in simultaneous partnership with IDEX.