Organised by Clarion Events Defence and Security in partnership with the Egyptian armed forces, the Egyptian Defence Expo. (EDEX) took place from 29th November to 2nd December 2021.

The first EDEX was held in 2018 to connect security industry players from across the Middle-East and the world. EDEX 2021, the second edition of the expo, was once again held at the Egypt International Exhibition Centre in New Cairo and inaugurated by the Egyptian President and Supreme Commander Abdel Fattah El Sisi.

Around 400 exhibitors from 42 countries participated in the event, with official military delegations from 45 nations and 30,000 attendees also taking part. Air, land and sea defence technology was all on display, showcasing some of the world’s latest and most cutting-edge military equipment.

EDEX’s organisers opted for an in-person event, mainly to accommodate VIP guests who would attract exhibitors, as well as to allow physical sampling of the products and encourage more in-depth networking. A mobile app provided the perfect solution for EDEX, with visitor information, a meeting booking system and filterable exhibitor list available on the same platform, making navigating the expo convenient and straightforward.

All In The Loop was asked to produce a bespoke hosted buyer style matchmaking function, to connect exhibitors to potential high value buyers using the app. With the custom VIP delegation matchmaking tab, exhibitors could book meetings with VIPs ahead of the event, ensuring discussions would be of particular relevance to their industry. If the meeting request was accepted, then when VIPs arrived on site they would be escorted to the meeting by a personal guide, who would be given live updates of their VIP’s schedule by the specialist matchmaking system.

The EDEX mobile app presented an excellent opportunity for sponsorship. Revolving banners which fit elegantly within the apps design and colour scheme provided consistent exposure for the sponsors without seeming intrusive for the users