Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has joined the inauguration ceremony of the International Defence Exhibition (IDEX-2019) at the United Arab Emirates.
The IDEX has been kicked off the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC) on Sunday (Feb 17) amid growing spending by Gulf countries in the defence sector to meet security challenges.
International companies will account for 85 percent of the total number of participating companies, while the number of local firms will reach 170, representing 15 per cent of the exhibitors.
Organisers are expecting total deals to equal or surpass the previous edition of IDEX. In 2017, the value of the deals announced was Dh19.7 billion, according to Duba-based English daily Gulf News.
Early in the day, an Etihad Airways flight carrying the prime minister and her entourage landed at Abu Dhabi International Airport at 6:40am local time.
Bangladesh Ambassador to the UAE Mohammad Imran received the prime minister at the airport.
After the reception at the airport, a ceremonial motorcade escorted the premier to St Regis Abu Dhabi Hotel where she will be staying during her visit to the UAE.
During the two-day visit to the UAE, Hasina will meet Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and hold bilateral talks with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of the Emirate of Dubai.
Hasina will have an audience with Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi, wife of late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder and the Inaugural President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, at Al Bahar Palace.
The prime minister will join a community event at St Regis Abu Dhabi Hotel.
Hasina is scheduled to return home from Abu Dhabi in the morning on Wednesday (Feb 20).