CAIRO — Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi inaugurated on Monday the second edition of Egypt Defense Expo – EDEX 2021. The exhibition continues until Dec. 2 at the “Egypt International Exhibition Center” in New Cairo.

El-Sisi said the high turnout at the fair reflects its significance, the strenuous efforts exerted in the organization of the expo and the weight of the participating companies.

“The attendance is huge and reflects our ability to organize, as well as the size and strength of the participating companies,” El-Sisi said.

The exhibition, which runs for four days, saw the participation of over 400 international companies working in defense and military industries representing 42 countries, including the US, France, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

During a get-acquainted tour of the pavilions of EDEX 2021, President El-Sisi dropped in at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s pavilion.

For his part, Head of the Saudi Military Industries Corporation Mohammed Bin Hamad Al-Mady, in the presence of the Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Fayyad Bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili, welcomed the Egyptian President during his tour of the Saudi pavilion.

Al-Mady said: "We welcome you for the second time in a row at the Kingdom's pavilion at the exhibition, in which we are participating under the guidance of Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy prime minister and minister of defense, and chairman of the General Organization for Military Industries."

He added, "We are very proud of our cooperation with the Egyptian military industries, and we have started signing several contracts with the Egyptian side, and ready to cooperate in other fields. We thank you for your encouragement and for your visit at this distinguished exhibition."

For his part, the Egyptian President said: "Welcome in your country, Egypt, and we are honored to have you with us at the exhibition."

Egypt’s Defense Minister Mohamed Zaki said the four-day event enables manufacturing companies to feature armament and defense systems and the latest developments in military production and industrialization.

The expo has created a sophisticated military gathering to present innovations, trade expertise, and promote military development and military production relations between countries, Zaki noted.

"The reality on the ground has revealed that peace needs potentials and capabilities to be protected and maintained," the defense minister said during the inauguration ceremony.

He stressed, "The Egyptian Armed Forces are still the safe fortress" that protects the nation, adding, "Egypt's endeavors to possess potentials [for power] are meant to safeguard its security and peace."

Following the inauguration, El-Sisi watched a documentary produced by the Armed Forces on Egypt's second EDEX under the rubric Egypt’s Strength and Peace. El-Sisi also toured the EDEX pavilions, where he was briefed on the military and defense products showcased by participating companies. — Agencies