Defence show opens in Doha today

An international military and security exhibition, which will showcase the latest arms, security equipment and systems, opens in Doha today with the participation of 169 international companies.

Missing for the first time is Israel which had regularly participated in the past. Milipol is organised by the Qatari Interior Ministry in collaboration with the French company IMEXPO that organises Milipol in Paris. The Milipol is held alternately in Paris and Doha whereby Paris hosts the event in every odd-numbered year and Doha in every even-numbered one. The first Doha exhibition was held in 1996.

"This is the third time Qatar hosts the Milipol show, and it has now become a premier event in the regional calendar," Milipol Qatar chairman Col. Mohamed Yousuf Al Mana told Gulf News yesterday. Sales at the exhibition are expected to surpass $50 million, Al Mana said.

Over 30 countries are taking part in the four-day exhibition held at the Qatar International Exhibition Centre in Doha's posh West Bay area. While Turkey, Russia, China, Pakistan and India will participate in the November 20-23 event for the first time.

Israeli firms have apparently opted out this time. "The Israeli firms did not approach the Milipol Qatar this time," Al Mana said. For this exhibition, Al Mana admitted that local companies dropped their sponsorship by more than 50 percent compared to the last exhibition in 1998. He attributed the drop to the fact that the sponsors contributed large sums to the OIC summit.

Officials, who spoke on customary condition of anonymity, the financial assistance for the Milipol fell from six million Qatari riyals for the 1998 Milipol to 2.5 million this time.

But Al Mana denied the drop would cause any problems. "There is absolutely no cash crunch. We have enough funds" to cover the nearly 12 million riyals needed to hold the event, he said."With the fees paid by exhibitors plus financial support from the government, money flow is definitely not a problem," he said