AmCham Abu Dhabi hosts IDEX 2019 Kick-Off Breakfast

AmCham Abu Dhabi held a high-level kick-off breakfast on Sunday, February 17, 2019 at Andaz Capital Gate Abu Dhabi, just before the opening of the International Defense Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) 2019. The highlight of the industry-focused event were compelling keynote addresses by The Honorable Steven C. Bondy, Charge d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi, Badr Al Olama, Head of Aerospace and Defense, Mubadala Investment Company and Lt. General Charles Hooper, Director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, U.S. Department of Defense.

For over 20 years, the AmCham Abu Dhabi IDEX Kick-Off Breakfast has been held on the first day of IDEX to facilitate networking and collaboration between locally based companies in the sector and visiting U.S. aerospace and defense industry executives. Over 150 guests attended, including AmCham Members, senior U.S. and U.A.E. military officers, government officials, and leading defense leaders from DTSA, NAVCENT, ARCENT, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Commerce.

The kick-off event was opened by AmCham Abu Dhabi Chairman, Mr. Sharief Fahmy, who warmly greeted the attendees, the keynote speakers, all the VIP’s and sponsors and thanked everybody in the room for their continuous support: “We’re very fortunate to have you all with us today, a very special thank you to our supporting partner AmCham Dubai under the leadership of Cara Nazari. Thank you AUSA team and Kallman Worldwide team for the amazing Pavilion U.S.A. at IDEX 2019. Finally, thank you to all the current serving AmCham Abu Dhabi Board of Directors and the Executive Staff under the leadership of Lisbeth Beneski.”