THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE, Friday, 05 May 2023 – The Acting Commander of Royal Brunei Navy (RBN), Captain Haji Mohamad Sarif Pudin bin Matserudin, RBN was in the Republic of Singapore attending the International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (IMDEX) Asia 2023 from 02 to 05 May 2023 at the Changi Exhibition Centre.
Present as the guest of honour was the Singapore Minister for Defence, Dr. Ng Eng Hen, who highlighted in his opening remarks the importance of strengthening mutual understanding and fostering consensus via platforms such as IMDEX Asia, against the backdrop of increasing tensions in a globally inter-linked world. He highlighted, "IMDEX Asia provides an important platform to maintain and hopefully enhance regional stability and security. That alone provides sufficient cause for government leaders and military commanders to be here. Because, in my mind the top priority for all government leaders at least in the next decade, if not longer, is to avoid a physical conflict in Asia."
In attendance at the opening ceremony were 47 delegations, including 22 Navy Chiefs, Directors-General of Coast-Guards and Heads of Maritime Law Enforcement Agencies from 38 countries. Over 250 exhibitors from around the world participated in this year's exhibition, while 22 ships from 13 countries took part in this year's IMDEX Asia Warships Display, including Darussalam class patrol vessel, KDB DARULEHSAN. Acting Commander RBN also had the opportunity to hold bilateral meetings with the Chiefs of Navies from Singapore and Malaysia as well as representatives from France.
IMDEX Asia 2023 was followed by the 8th International Maritime Security Conference (IMSC) at Changi Exhibition Centre on 03 May. The IMSC is a high-profile conference that brings together Chiefs of Navies, Director-Generals of Coast Guard, government officials, academia, think tanks and key industry players around the world to discuss threats to maritime safety and security.
Prior to attending IMDEX Asia 2023, Acting Commander RBN also attended the Indo Pacific Nexus Insitu Users Conference organized by Insitu Inc. at the Westin Hotel from 01 to 02 May 2023. The conference was developed to foster cooperation and facilitate Government-to-Government discussions between current and previous users of Insitu Unmanned Aerial Systems products and services.
