25 Million Dram Spent on Displaying Booklets and Water Bottles

Armenia is participating in the 15th International Defense Exhibition IDEX 2021 with a unified pavilion in Abu Dhabi from February 21-25. This exhibition is regarded as the world’s most prestigious platform in the military industry and technology sector, featuring leading corporations and countries on a global scale.

The images circulated on the internet reflect poorly on Armenia’s participation in this exhibition. Reports indicate that, “While the Armenian authorities are using yet another international platform to disgrace our state and undermine our international reputation, the Ministry of High-Tech Industry, which organized Armenia's participation in the expo, failed to calculate and manage the logistical support for showcasing materials.” Armenian weapons remain in Moscow, although they should have been in Abu Dhabi, and Armenia presented itself at the expo with only booklets and water bottles.

It is significant that renting a pavilion at the expo entails immense costs. According to the IDEX 2021 website, the fee for participation varies depending on the type and size of the rented pavilion and the number of organizations involved. Judging by the picture, Armenia’s rented pavilion is not outdoors and occupies more than 30 square meters. The Ministry's website indicates that 14 companies are participating from Armenia. With a rough estimate, it appears that to embarrass itself on an internationally respected platform, the ministry led by Hakob Arshakyan has spent approximately 25 million dram from the state budget—excluding transportation costs. The most distressing aspect is that during the same exhibition, Azerbaijan showcased its entire military arsenal at another pavilion.

It is worth noting that Auroranews is attempting to clarify with the Ministry of High-Tech Industry why the Armenian pavilion was presented in such a manner.