The Saudi Military Industries Company (Sami) is exploring investment opportunities offered at the Bahrain International Air Show (BIAS) with its participation at the show, the company said.

The event which is being held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, was opened by Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, personal representative of HM the King and chairman of the Supreme Organising Committee of BIAS yesterday (Nov 14).

The three-day event will conclude tomorrow (November 16) at the Sakhir Air Base in southern Bahrain.

Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa visited Sami’s pavilion at the show and was briefed on the company’s achievements and military services in four key areas, including aeronautics, land systems, weapons and missiles, and defence electronics.

He expressed his admiration and appreciation for the qualitative leap of the Saudi military industries, under the guidance and with the unlimited support of the Saudi leadership, particularly the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and the Crown Prince HRH Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence.

Dr Andreas Schwer, chief executive officer of Sami, said: “This important international event provides a unique platform for meeting decision-makers and industry leaders in aviation and military industries from all over the world, as well as the aviation ecosystem as a whole.”

“The air show has cemented its reputation as an unparalleled venue to exchange ideas and expertise on challenges and opportunities in these two vital sectors,” he added.

“Our participation in the Bahrain International Air Show is aimed at ‎highlighting Sami’s ‎growing military capabilities and showcasing our ‎achievements in enhancing self-sufficiency in ‎defence capabilities,” he said.

“‎We are ‎keen to take advantage of the unique opportunities offered by the show and ‎the ‎promising investment prospects in Saudi Arabia’s booming military ‎industries in order to support the kingdom’s vision of localising ‎over 50 per cent of military equipment ‎spending by 2030,” Dr Schwer concluded. ‎

Sami has earlier announced the launch of its joint venture, ‘SAMI Navantia Naval Industries,’ with Navantia SA to design and build five Avante 2200 corvettes with Combat Management System for the Ministry of Defense of Saudi Arabia, it stated. – TradeArabia News Service