Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Defense, Colonel (Retired) Muana Brima Massaquoi has left the country to attend the inauguration of the Second Edition of the World Defence Show (WDS) held in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The six-day WDS event which ends on 9th February, 2024, serves as a platform where the global defence industry can convene, connect and gain valuable insight and access to the latest innovation-driven defence & security solutions.
The event, organised by the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), is also aimed at showcasing Saudi Arabia’s commitment to becoming a global hub for the defence industry.
The Minister of Defence and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, inaugurated the World Defence Show 2024 in Riyadh on Sunday.
During the inauguration, Prince Khalid and other senior officials inspected the air shows and static aircraft displays.
The Governor of GAMI, Ahmad Abdulaziz Al-Ohali, expressed profound gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz for their unlimited support, stating that the show provides an ideal environment for fostering international partnerships in the defence and security industry, aligning with the Kingdom’s vision through technology transfer and skills development.
This support, Governor Al-Ohali said, enhances the Kingdom’s strategic independence and backs the ambitious goals of Vision 2030, which aims to localize 50% of defence expenditure. He said that the Kingdom has started to reap the benefits of this support, with localization rates increasing from 4% to 13.6% at the end of 2022.
The Governor also disclosed that 477 foundational permits and licenses have been issued for 265 companies operating in the defence industries sector and over 74 investment opportunities have been provided for supply chain localization.
He said that the sector’s contribution to the GDP is expected to reach approximately 93.75 billion Saudi Arabian Riyals by 2030, adding that the sector is also expected to contribute an estimated total of 40,000 direct and 60,000 indirect job opportunities.
Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Defence, Colonel (Retired) Muana Brima Massaquoi expressed optimism that the country would continue fostering collaboration and partnerships with GAMI Saudi Arabia for common interest on issues relating to defence and global security.
The Deputy Minister of Defence was accompanied by Colonel Alimamy Taylor-Kamara, the Director of Defence Information and Communication, Ministry of Defence.
