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Saudi Military Industries Eye Localization, Tech Transfer Partnerships

Saudi General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) Governor Ahmed Al-Ohali at the Defense and Security Equipment International Exhibition (DSEI) in London. (SPA)
Saudi General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) Governor Ahmed Al-Ohali at the Defense and Security Equipment International Exhibition (DSEI) in London. (SPA)
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Saudi Military Industries Eye Localization, Tech Transfer Partnerships

Saudi General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) Governor Ahmed Al-Ohali at the Defense and Security Equipment International Exhibition (DSEI) in London. (SPA)
Saudi General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) Governor Ahmed Al-Ohali at the Defense and Security Equipment International Exhibition (DSEI) in London. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), responsible for localizing, organizing, and empowering the military industries sector in the Kingdom, is participating in the renowned Defense and Security Equipment International Exhibition (DSEI).

The DESI kicked off its activities in London on Tuesday with a broad and global attendance.

At first glance, Saudi participation appears to be related to defense cooperation or striking business with companies. However, when reading the Kingdom’s pavilion slogan, “Invest Saudi,” visitors soon realize that GAMI is looking to attract investments.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, GAMI Governor Ahmed Al-Ohali said that the pavilion looks towards more localization and transferring technology to the Kingdom, as well as expanding international partnerships.

The governor also revealed that GAMI aims to conclude strategic and critical agreements to maximize the role of women in the military industries sector. The authority will do so with Saudi universities and research centers.

“We are committed to completing the march,” Al-Ohali told Asharq Al-Awsat, adding that GAMI is relying on the efforts of Saudi men and women to achieve its localization goals.

“Saudi women have strengthened their presence in the sector by engaging in the military-industrial system in the Kingdom,” he revealed, adding that GAMI is “keen on empowering Saudi women.”

He pointed out the unprecedented presence of female engineers and technicians in various disciplines serving this vital sector.

Describing the growth witnessed by GAMI, the governor used the term “remarkable.”

According to Al-Ohali, the number of licensed companies in the first half of 2021 reached 99 local, international, and mixed companies.

He said that these companies want to be a part of the development of the Saudi economy and have decided to pump their funds into the Kingdom based on its strategic location and qualitative capabilities.

Saudi Arabia has also facilitated procedures for foreign investors.

Al-Ohali stressed that the Kingdom’s leadership had given the military industries sector “limitless” support and care to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s strategic independence.

The sector strategy approved by the Saudi Council of Ministers consists of three main pillars.

They include acquisition, industry, and research, and technology.

Al-Ohali confirmed that GAMI is working with all the parties concerned with attracting investment to the Kingdom to ensure that an integrated picture of the investment environment in the Kingdom is presented.

“The Kingdom has become an ideal destination for investment in this sector in particular and the rest of the other industrial sectors in general,” stressed Al-Ohali.

“We worked with partners and came up with 74 investment opportunities related to localization in supply chains across six defense and security areas,” he remarked.

“We met with more than 350 investors and partners to identify these opportunities, and we worked side by side with our partners in the public and private sectors to develop a clear roadmap for industrial targets in the sector,” noted Al-Ohali.

As for Saudi Arabia’s participation in the DSEI, he said it aims at shedding light on the promising investment opportunities in the sector, supporting investors, and facilitating their access to the Saudi military and security industries market.

He added that the military industries system in Saudi Arabia, represented by GAMI and all its public and private sector partners, realize the strategic goal of localizing the military industries in Saudi Arabia with more than 50% of the country’s expenditure on military equipment and services by 2030.

Saudi Arabia’s participation at the DSEI event is expected to unlock the Middle East opportunity for UK firms. A senior-level delegation will be at the DSEI Saudi Pavilion to highlight opportunities in the Gulf defense show market.

Several high-level dignitaries and leaders, and key executives of large multinationals are set to visit the Saudi Pavilion, which will showcase a comprehensive portfolio of defense systems and solutions.

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Lebanon’s President to Asharq Al-Awsat: Decision of War and Peace Lies Solely with the State

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in the interview with Asharq Al-Awsat's editor-in-chief Ghassan Charbel. Photo: Asharq Al-Awsat
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in the interview with Asharq Al-Awsat's editor-in-chief Ghassan Charbel. Photo: Asharq Al-Awsat
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Lebanon’s President to Asharq Al-Awsat: Decision of War and Peace Lies Solely with the State

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in the interview with Asharq Al-Awsat's editor-in-chief Ghassan Charbel. Photo: Asharq Al-Awsat
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in the interview with Asharq Al-Awsat's editor-in-chief Ghassan Charbel. Photo: Asharq Al-Awsat

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun says he wants to build a state that has the decision of war and peace and stressed he is committed to implementing Security Council Resolution 1701.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, his first since his election in January, Aoun said: “Our objective is to build the state, so nothing is difficult. And if we want to talk about the concept of sovereignty, its concept is to place the decisions of war and peace in the hands of the state, and to monopolize or restrict weapons to the state.”

“When will it be achieved? Surely, the circumstances will allow it,” he told the newspaper.

Asked whether the state will be able to impose control over all Lebanese territories with its own forces and without any military or security partnership, he said: "It is no longer allowed for anyone other than the state to fulfill its national duty in protecting the land and the people ... When there is an aggression against the Lebanese state, the state makes the decision, and it determines how to mobilize forces to defend the country."

He also stressed his full commitment to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701. “The state and all its institutions are committed to implementing the Resolution” on the “entire Lebanese territories,” Aoun said.

On the possible adoption of a defense strategy, Aoun insisted that even if a state does not have enemies on its borders, it should agree on a national security strategy that not only deals with military goals but also economic and fiscal objectives.

“We are tired of war,” he said in response to a question. “We hope to end military conflicts and resolve our problems through diplomatic efforts,” he said.

Asked whether he was surprised that the Israeli army has stayed at five points in south Lebanon, Aoun said that Israel should have committed to the ceasefire agreement that was sponsored by the US and France and should have withdrawn from all areas it had entered during the war with Hezbollah.

“We are in contact with France and the US to pressure Israel to withdraw from the five points because they don’t have any military value,” he said.

“With the emergence of technologies, drones and satellites,” an army does not need a hill for surveillance, Aoun added.

"Saudi Arabia has become a gateway for the region and for the whole world. It has become a platform for global peace,” he said when asked why he has chosen to visit the Kingdom on his first official trip abroad.

“I hope and expect from Saudi Arabia, especially Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, that we correct the relationship for the benefit of both countries and remove all the obstacles ... so that we can build economic and natural relations between us.”

He said that during his visit he plans to ask Saudi Arabia to revive a grant of military aid to Lebanon.

On relations with the Syrian authorities, Aoun said he intends to have friendly ties the new Syrian administration and that one of the pressing issues is to resolve the problem of the porous border between the two countries.

“There are problems on the border (with Syria) with smugglers. Most importantly, the land and sea border with Syria should be demarcated,” he said.

Aoun also called for resolving the problem of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. “The Syrian state cannot give up on 2 million citizens who have been displaced to Lebanon.”

The refugees should return because “the Syrian war ended and the regime that was persecuting them collapsed,” he said.