Qatar-based Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (Rusi) will play host to the Middle East Naval Commanders Conference (MENC) which will be held on October 27 in Doha.

The conference is a key component of Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (Dimdex 2012), a pre-eminent maritime defence event in the region to be held from March 26 to 28.

The three-day programme will see senior naval commanders, policy-makers, government officials and analysts converge in Doha to discuss key developments in the maritime field.

Given the current geo-strategic importance of the Mena region in global defence and security issues, Dimdex 2012 will be a landmark event in the global maritime calendar.

Dimdex chairman Staff Brigadier (Sea) Mohammed Bin Nasser Al Mohannadi said the MENC conference provides a unique and high profile forum where naval commanders from across the GCC meet their international contemporaries to discuss the crucial issues facing today’s maritime defence industry.'

Rusi’s expertise in promoting debate between military and security communities in the GCC makes it an ideal partner for the MENC Conference,” he stated.

David Roberts, deputy director of Rusi Qatar expressed delight at partnering with Dimdex for the naval conference.

'The theme this year is “the strategic importance of maritime security in protecting the global economy” which will highlight the significant role that naval forces play in generating and maintaining the stability needed for business, economics and overall prosperity,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service