Cairo - Angola has been taking part since Monday, in Cairo, in the Third International Defence Industries Exhibition, which is taking place at the Egypt International Exhibition Centre, presided over by the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Abdul Fatah Khalil Al-Sisi.
The event which runs until next Thursday, brings together 22 countries from Africa and the rest of the world, including Germany, France, United States of America, Brazil, Italy, South Korea, Romania, China, Turkey and Egypt.
At the opening, Egypt's minister of Defence and Military Production, Mohamed Ahmed Zaki, stressed the need for each country to increase investment in the Armed Forces, equipping them with the capabilities to face today's challenges.
In the presence of the Egyptian President, Mohamed Zaki highlighted the need to update the Armed Forces, by modernising military resources and equipment, as a starting point for building strong armies capable of dealing with any eventuality.
The minister also stressed the need for cooperation and the exchange of knowledge between the different Armed Forces, an opportunity that this event can provide, during the four days of exhibitions to be interspersed with lectures and conferences, in different panels, as well as the signing of agreements to bring the national defence industries of the participating countries closer to Egypt.
The Angolan delegation to the event, led by the secretary of State for Military Industry at the Ministry of National Defence, Former Combatants and Veterans of the Homeland, Afonso Carlos Neto, includes Brigadiers José Catumbela and Lourenço Bundi, as well as Colonel José Pedro Mugimbo, Angola's Defence Attaché in Egypt.
In this event they will take the opportunity to share the experience of the country's defence sector, from the founding of the first regular forces, the now defunct People's Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola (FAPLA), in August 1974, whose social and historical dimension, including the capacity for combative reorganisation, is recognised to the present day, particularly in Africa.
On Monday the Angolan delegation visited the pavilions of China, Turkey and Egypt which are exhibiting their potential in the defence industry, covering the areas of communication and mobility, textiles, aeronautics, naval and technology, among others.
The Angolan delegation's agenda for the event includes meetings with official and governmental entities, as well as businesspeople from different countries.
VM/MRA/jmc
