Monday, April 23, 2018

الفرص والتعاقدات الدفاعية المتاحة في مجال التصنيع العسكري في المملكة العربية السعودية في ضوء رؤية 2030

سأقوم أنا وزميلي جوزيف مارتينز باستعراض الفرص والتعاقدات الدفاعية المتاحة في مجال التصنيع العسكري في المملكة العربية السعودية في ضوء رؤية 2030 وذلك خلال اللقاء الذي سيُعقد يوم الخميس 26 ابريل في مدينة الرياض. فضلاً مشاركتنا هذا النقاش في الجلسة الصباحية. 

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Defense Contracting in Saudi Arabia: Opportunities for Military Manufacturing under Vision 2030


My colleague Joseph Martinez and I will be speaking on Thursday, Apr. 26 in Riyadh on Defense Contracting and opportunities for military manufacturing in Saudi Arabia under Vision 2030. Please join us for this breakfast discussion.

Program
Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and the National Transformation Program 2020 present unprecedented opportunities to military contractors to invest in Saudi Arabia. Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman has committed to make Saudi Arabia, a top-4 military spender globally and the world's second largest importer of military arms, a leader on the world stage and to localize over 50 percent of military equipment spending by 2030. Led by Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman's pioneering vision for a local military manufacturing sector, the Saudi government is actively seeking partnerships with the world's leading defense, security and technology firms. Vision 2030 offers these companies unprecedented investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia.

In navigating what Vision 2030 means for defense contractors, we will explore the following questions:
- What opportunities are available for partnership with Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), Saudi Arabia's national military industries company created by the Public Investment Fund in 2017?
- What does partnering with Saudi Arabian Military Industries mean for winning contracts from the Royal Saudi Land Forces, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of the Saudi Arabian National Guard and the Ministry of the Interior?
- What rules and regulations will govern joint ventures established between military contractors, Saudi Arabian Military Industries and private defense companies in Saudi Arabia?
- Will foreign defense contractors be granted military manufacturing investment licenses in Saudi Arabia?
- What are the pitfalls to joint ventures and how can they be avoided?
- What strategies and tactics can be implemented to protect sensitive intellectual property and trade secrets when partnering with Saudi JV partners?
- Will the US government relax export controls as US companies seek to transfer knowledge and technology to their Saudi JV partners? Will such knowledge and technology remain secure with Saudi JV partners?
- How will compliance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) play out with the Vision 2030 push to transfer sensitive technology to Saudi Arabia?
- What other commercial issues should companies consider when engaging in joint ventures in Saudi Arabia?

Schedule of Events:
7:00 AM - 7:30 AM - Networking Reception
7:30 AM - 9:00 AM - Breakfast and Program

Speakers:
Joseph Martinez
Partner, Dentons - Denver
Joe's practice focuses on all aspects of government contracts, including litigation and compliance counseling with an emphasis on contract and subcontract formation and pricing issues and complex claims litigation. Joe has assisted a number of U.S. Contractors with compliance issues arising from foreign performance, including foreign registration and employment issues, intellectual property and trade secret protection, and foreign military sales and direct commercial sales. Joe is also a member of Dentons' Political Law, Ethics and Disclosure team and assists government contractors in navigating the intersection of law, politics and public policy. Joe received his law degree from the University of Colorado School of Law, his Masters in Public Administration from the University of Colorado School of Public Affairs, and his BA in Political Science from the University of Michigan. Prior to joining Dentons, he was a law clerk for Governor Bill Owens (R-CO) and a legislative intern for US Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO).

John Balouziyeh
Legal Consultant, Dentons - Riyadh
John advises defense companies investing in the Middle East on government contracts and procurement with the Saudi Ministry of Defense, the Royal Saudi Land Forces, the National Guard, the Ministry of Interior and other government bodies. He has advised government contractors on government tenders and procurement with the US Department of Defense and foreign governments throughout the Middle East. In addition to his work at Dentons, he serves as a Judge Advocate in the JAG Corps Army Reserve and as a Department of Defense Liaison with the American Red Cross, where he fields international humanitarian law trainings and develops training materials on the rules of engagement and laws of armed conflict.

Payment:
Members - SR 155 per person
Non-members- SR 175 per person

Registration closes Wednesday, April 25, 2018.
To register: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07efa43dbod3cb1f36&oseq=&c=&ch=

Riyadh Marriott Hotel
Al Ma'ather Street
Al Wazarat District
Riyadh 11464
Saudi Arabia

For questions, please contact:
Claire Bridge
manager@abgrksa.com
+966-564346587