UK urges Emirati defence companies to bid for equipment procurement plan

The UK defence minister spoke highly of UAE-UK ties.

The UK Minister for Defence Procurement, Stuart Andrew, today urged Emirati defence companies to consider bidding for the defence competitions the UK Ministry of Defence is running to buy and support the equipment that the UK Armed Forces require to meet their objectives.
"We are embarking on a very ambitious equipment procurement plan to spend GBP186 billion over the coming 10 years across all defence domains, including cyber security and space; and there is a wealth of opportunities for companies in UAE to bid in for the competitions we are running to meet the objectives of the UK Armed Forces," Andrew, told Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of the International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX), which opened in the UAE capital today.
"Competition is the cornerstone in terms of procuring the equipment and it's an opportunity to show what we offer and an opportunity for Emirati companies to bid in for the process we have in the UK."
The minister spoke highly of UAE-UK ties. "We are very proud of our relations with the UAE which go across all areas of life, not only in economic activities but also in defence and security. We hold a great deal of importance to our partnership with the UAE which is an important partner in this very important region and we want to continue this partnership and build on it in the future," he added.
He noted that his country is looking forward to consolidating cooperation with the UAE across the entire security domain, whether it be in the air, at sea or on the land. "We are looking into how to work together to counter terrorism. We're making sure that we learn from each other. There is a lot the UAE can teach us and there is a lot we've learned and ready to share with the UAE."
Andrew underline the importance of the IDEX and the" significant" participation of a large number of British companies.
"We have between 30-40 British companies participating in IDEX which I have the honour of attending for the first time. They have a whole range of capabilities that demonstrate that the UK is a great exporter and we fit into many of the prosperity agendas here like 2021 which we know how important it is for the UAE.
Stuart Andrew, MP for Pudsey, was appointed as the Minister for Defence Procurement, in July 2018, replacing Guto Bebb MP. He moves across British Government from a role in the Wales Office.

• UAE