Angola to hold first defence exhibition

20 August 2013 by defenceWeb

Angola will hold its first defence exhibition, the International Fair of the Defence and Security Industry (FIDES), in November as it attempts to build up a local defence industry and reduce dependence on foreign imports.

Angola’s defence minister Candido Pereira dos Santos van Dunem said that FIDES would “identify opportunities to establish public-private partnerships,” and “stimulate investment in the defence and security industry.”

FIDES will be held from November 10 to 13 at the International Luanda Fair (FIL) venue. It will be “a platform for boosting economic cooperation ties between Angola and other countries,” van Dunem said.

Some 70 companies from five invited countries – Portugal, Germany, Italy, Spin and Israel – are expected to exhibit, although the fair could see up to 100 exhibitors from 27 countries.

FIDES was officially launched in the capital Luanda on Friday by van Dunem, under the banner ‘Peace, Security and Development’. The minister said he wants Angola to reduce its dependence on defence imports and create jobs at home.