Cairo: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi attended the inauguration of the fourth edition of the International Defense Industries Exhibition "EDEX 2025" at the Egypt International Exhibition Center. The event saw the presence of Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and Minister of Defense and Military Production Abdel Mageed Saqr, as well as several ministers and senior state officials.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the exhibition includes pavilions from 25 countries and has attracted delegations from over 100 countries, with approximately 45,000 specialized experts in attendance. This level of international participation is seen as a testament to global confidence in Egypt's organizational capabilities, its regional leadership, and its role in attracting investments in defense and tourism sectors.
The opening of EDEX 2025 featured a musical performance titled '?Ala ?ul Mitgama?in' ('Always United'), showcasing young singers. Following this, a documentary was presented about the K9A1EGY howitzer, a South Korean-origin self-propelled artillery system known for its massive firepower under challenging battlefield conditions. The documentary highlighted Egypt's decision to acquire the system in February 2022 to enhance the capabilities of its Armed Forces.
The documentary further revealed Egypt's ambition not only to purchase the K9A1EGY system but also to build a domestic industry capable of producing modern military systems. A joint-manufacturing plan was set in motion to transfer expertise to Egyptian factories, starting with a production line operated by local engineers and technicians. The film emphasized Egypt's confident steps towards manufacturing the K9A1EGY howitzer, which boasts a range exceeding 40 km and the ability to fire multiple shells within seconds, thus enhancing Egypt's defensive capabilities.
The event also included a documentary on the previous three editions of EDEX held in 2018, 2021, and 2023, which received high praise from international bodies. Minister of Defense Abdel Mageed Saqr noted that EDEX 2025 has become a premier global platform for showcasing advanced armament systems and defense technologies. Following the defense minister's address, President Sisi toured the exhibition's pavilions.