Pakistan’s GIDS signed a contract with UAE’s Tawazun at IDEX 2021 in Abu Dhabi
Pakistan’s defense manufacturer sealed a contract with UAE and the officials discussed collaboration with Italy, Ukraine and UAE during the International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX) 2021.
Pakistan’s Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS) company signed a contract Tawazun, the UAE’s defense and security industry enabler. GIDS is the largest state-owned manufacturer of unmanned aerial vehicles meeting the needs of armed forces since 2007. The details of the contract were not shared by both parties.
The signing ceremony was attended by Pakistan’s Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Nadeem Raza who also discussed future defense collaboration Italy, Ukraine and UAE among others at the expo where more than 900 exhibitors from 59 countries participated.
A number of state-owned and private Pakistani defense manufacturers, as well as Pakistan Navy ships, participated in the four-day IDEX and Naval Defence & Maritime Security Exhibition (NAVDEX) in Abu Dhabi that concluded on February 25, 2021. CJCSC said that the Pakistani defense manufacturing sector “is capable of meeting the bulk requirements of foreign customers in areas of medium, as well as selected areas of high technology.”
Official meetings at IDEX
CJCSC held meetings with Lieutenant General Hamad Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithi, Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces, as well as General Enzo Vecciarelli, Chief of Defence of Italy and Oleh Urusky, Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine. Pakistan and UAE military officials discussed the development of military engagements between both countries and discussed cooperation in security and counter-terrorism domains.
Pakistan’s Minister for Defence Production Zobaida Jalal also visited the defense expo in the Gulf state and appreciated the level of preparedness of Pakistani exhibitors.
Minister Jalal also held a meeting with UAE’s Minister of State for Defence Affairs Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi and conveyed “Pakistan’s willingness to work closely in the defense production sector to bolster the existing Pakistan-UAE bilateral relations” Bowardi assured support for stronger defense ties between Pakistan and the UAE. Pakistan’s Ambassador to UAE Afzaal Mahmood and Defense Attaché Air Commodore Ali Asher also attended the meeting.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Defense Production (MoDP) in its 2020 report said that the ministry seeks to expand collaboration with the private sector and the local and international market to “develop a self-reliant and a self-sustained defense production industry.” This move is aimed at meeting the needs of the military, generate revenue, reduce foreign reliance, generate revenues, and create more job opportunities.
Pakistan awards $85m contract to Ukraine firm
At the IDEX 2021, Pakistan awarded a contract worth $85.6 million for modernizing T-80UD main battle tanks to Ukraine’s state-owned arms conglomerate UkrOboronProm. Pakistan has nearly 300 T-80UDs that it procured from Ukraine in 1996. The two countries also discussed future collaboration including new orders for the supply of 6TD1 and 6TD2 engines, according to Yuri Gusev, CEO of Ukroboronprom.