Barzan signs seven agreements at Dimdex

Barzan Holdings, the first defence and security company responsible forempowering the military capabilities of the Qatar Armed Forces, hasconcluded its participation at Dimdex 2018 by signing a further sevenagreements with leading international defence companies from around theworld.“According to military and civilian delegates visiting the impressiveBarzan Holdings pavilion at Dimdex - the largest at the exhibition -Barzan Holdings’ presence has been a huge boost for the event, andBarzan Holdings acts as a new landmark for Qatar’s defence industry,”according to a statement.On the third and last day of Dimdex, Rheinmetall Barzan AdvancedTechnologies (RBAT), which is Barzan Holdings’ joint venture (JV) withGerman defence company Rheinmetall AG, signed four agreements.RBAT signed a notice to proceed to build an ammunition production plantin Qatar to produce various types of ammunition, ranging from mediumcalibre rounds to aircraft bombs and missile assembly. It is expectedthat over 200 skilled jobs will be directly generated in connection withthe plant.An MoU was signed between RBAT, Barzan Holdings and other Ministry ofDefence stakeholders to produce explosive ordnance in Qatar, and theformal training of specialists in explosive ordnance.In the presence of the Commander of Qatar’s National Service, RBATsigned an agreement to establish a highly realistic laser trainingsolution that will simulate live training scenarios within a mock urbanenvironment to help ensure that Qatari National Service Cadets areprepared in the best possible way to serve the nation.RBAT signed an agreement with the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces to providecritical infrastructure protection to safeguard military and economicsites in Qatar, including fully integrated security and surveillancesystems for a new naval base.Barzan Holdings signed two agreements with Qatar Science and TechnologyPark (QSTP), first to develop research related to defence and securitywith the support of QSTP’s facilities, and second for Barzan Holdings torent a 40,000sq m dedicated space for R&D at QSTP’s Tech 4building, exclusively for the use of Barzan Holdings and its JVcompanies.The signing ceremony was conducted in the presence of QSTP chairman DrHamad al-Ibrahim. He stated after the ceremony that: “We are incontinuous collaboration with different military and security sectors inQatar for experimentation in many specialised areas of research in linewith Qatar’s present and future needs.”Dr al-Ibrahim also stated that QSTP has a lot of communication withvarious countries, including the US and Turkey and QSTP will continueall of its endeavours to come out with the best practices andmethodologies related to research and development.As a result, QSTP has launched its initiatives with the Ministry ofDefence in co-ordination with Qatar Scientific Research Fund to supportpost-graduate scholarship students for the benefit of all parties.Barzan Holdings signed an agreement with Italian company BerettaHolding, for Beretta to supply rifles to Qatar for use by differentmilitary sectors. The first shipment will be made in April this year,and represents the first phase in an agreement with Beretta Holding tocreate a JV named “Bindig.” The second phase of the agreement will seeBindig manufacture pistols and rifles under the Bindig name in Qatar atthe Barzan Industrial Zone, a 26sq km area designated by the Ministry ofDefence. The Zone, designed based on the needs of the Qatar Armed Forces, isdivided into three main parts: testing and evaluation; administrationand residential; and the Industrial Military Area where Bindig’sproduction and manufacturing factory will be located in large hangerswith safety perimeters.The signing ceremony with Beretta Holding was attended by HE the DeputyPrime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs Dr Khalid binMohamed al-Attiyah and the Italian Minister of Defence Roberta Pinotti.Barzan Holdings managing director Nasser al-Naimi stated that theagreement with Beretta Holding represents a strategic deal between Qatarand Italy, and is firmly in line with Barzan Holdings’ objective ofmeeting Qatar’s long-term defence and security needs. “By manufacturing pistols and rifles in Qatar, Bindig is not onlyempowering the capabilities of the Qatar Armed Forces but also bringingnew technologies and industry to the economy, and is helping to buildQatar’s human capital through knowledge exchange,” he explained.During the three days of Dimdex, Barzan Holdings has signed a total of24 agreements with international partners, marking a new beginning inQatar’s defence industry that will strengthen Qatar’s self-sufficiencyin defence through building human and technological capital, andfacilitating new research and development.