DOHA: Pakistan, Qatar, Türkiye and Indonesia have signed a multilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen defence manufacturing, promote technology transfer and expand cooperation in research, development and technical training.
The agreement, named the “Badr” MoU, was signed in Doha on Wednesday by representatives of the four countries, according to Qatar’s Ministry of Defence. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif signed the document on behalf of Pakistan at a ceremony attended by senior defence officials.
The framework brings together the defence ministries of the participating countries, Pakistan’s defence production establishment and Türkiye’s Presidency of Defence Industries, aiming to build stronger industrial links and combine the capabilities of their respective defence sectors.
Focus on Technology Transfer and Joint Production
Speaking about the agreement, Khawaja Muhammad Asif said the partnership could create new opportunities for greater self-reliance, industrial collaboration, joint production and technology transfer.
He emphasised the importance of leveraging the complementary strengths of the four countries’ defence industries while ensuring cooperation remains consistent with relevant domestic and international laws and regulations.
The agreement also provides for collaboration in joint research and development, technical training exchanges and the development of industrial capabilities.
Strengthening Defence Industrial Cooperation
The Badr framework is intended to encourage closer coordination among the participating countries’ defence industries, potentially creating opportunities to share technical expertise, develop skills and strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity.
Research and development cooperation, alongside training programmes and technology transfer, forms a central part of the initiative.
The partnership also reflects a shared interest in building greater self-reliance and expanding industrial cooperation among the four countries.
Why the Agreement Is Called ‘Badr’
The name “Badr” comes from the Arabic word for a full moon. Qatar’s Ministry of Defence has described the initiative as a framework for combining the participating countries’ capabilities in defence manufacturing and strengthening cooperation across their defence industries.
