Dimdex 2018, international showcase for ITS Margottini and Italian Navy’s excellence

23 March 2018 14.00

ITS Margottini represented Italy at the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition - held in Qatar from 12 to 15 March - a naval exposition where the leading companies in the Aerospace, Defence and Security sector have displayed the latest innovative solutions in terms of technology, design and automation.The Italian FREMM frigate, docked at the port of Hamad (Doha), also hosted the meetings between the Italian Defence Minister, Sen. Roberta Pinotti, with top-ranking officers of Qatar Emiri Navy, in the presence of the Chief of the Italian Navy, Admiral Valter Girardelli, and Ambassador Pasquale Salzano, as evidence of the essential role played abroad by our naval vessels in terms of naval diplomacy. The presence of the Italian Defence authorities was a clear reassertion of the excellent relationships with the Qatari armed forces in terms of cooperation and development, notably as regards the protection of sea lines of communication, ensuring freedom of navigation in sea areas which, though far from Italy, are the main maritime trade routes for goods transferred to our country.

The Doha maritime defence exposition has been once again an international showcase for the excellence of the Italian industry, during which ITS Margottini received visits from military authorities of participating countries and representatives of exhibiting companies, as concrete evidence of the Italian Navy's capability to play a leading and active part in the promotion of the Italian Country System during the Campaign in the Middle East. Onboard, the crew's operational capability effectively combines with systems provided by the European and, in particular, Italian industry, notably including major Italian industrial groups such as Fincantieri, Leonardo, MBDA and Elettronica, whose partnership with the Italian Navy allowed the realization of this campaign.

The event also offered the crews of the visiting warships – from the Navies of India, United Kingdom, United States of America, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Oman and Qatar – the chance to participate in a number of social events and opportunities for fraternisation, during which ITS Margottini's football and volleyball teams played against sides of other countries in a multinational tournament.

The next stopovers of ITS Margottini's Campaign in the Middle East will be at Kuwait City, and then Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Media coverage will be provided by Rivista Italiana Difesa (RID) and Agenzia Nova.

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