Over 108 Million Dram Paid for Abu Dhabi Exhibition Booth Featuring Only Brochures, MTA Reports Expenses

The Ministry of High-Tech Industry of Armenia has presented the expenses incurred by Armenia for participation in the IDEX-2021 international defense industry exhibition. According to the ministry's report, 108,352,652 AMD was paid just for the booth rental.

It should be noted that there were no exhibits displayed at the Armenian companies' booth at IDEX-2021; instead, brochures were presented. In order to clarify the circumstances of the situation, the minister has ordered a service investigation.

The MTA report detailed: "For participation in the exhibition, the Armenian delegation included 6 employees from the ministry and the Defense Industry Committee, as well as over 45 specialists from various Armenian defense industry companies to regulate organizational issues.

The cost of airline tickets, per diems, and hotel accommodation for the ministry's delegation amounted to 8,604,603 AMD, in accordance with the requirements established by the RA Government's decision No. 2335-N dated December 29, 2005.

The rental payment for the booth area was made to 'Capital Events' and 'Berns Brett Masaood' companies, totaling 108,352,652 AMD. The cost of booth design and construction was 23,000,000 AMD (Expo Group LLC).

For further information, you may visit www.procurement.am.

The minister's official representative expenses amounted to 139,000 AMD, as established by the 2021 budgetary allocations for representative expenses of the ministry.

According to the 4th appendix of the order No. 61-A dated January 27, 2021, of the Minister of High-Tech Industry of Armenia, the accommodation expenses for one representative from each participating company for 4 nights amounted to 9 individuals and totaled 3,637,700 AMD (25,320 AED). All other expenses were incurred by the companies, in accordance with the requirements established by the RA Government's decision No. 2335-N dated December 29, 2005.

Following discussions, the companies found it appropriate to send the exhibits in a unified manner, considering their nature and the complexity of the overall process. Given the tight deadlines, the Ministry provided as much support as possible to the participating companies in resolving their emerging issues. It was also planned that the participating companies would pay for the transportation service.