(Doha, GULF TIMES) – The Italian Navy frigate Carabiniere returned Sunday at Hamad Port after its first visit to Doha one year ago, Italian ambassador Pasquale Salzano has said.
“It gives me the greatest honour to welcome Carabiniere to Doha as my first official commitment as Italian ambassador to Qatar,” the envoy said. “This new port call witnesses the strength of the bilateral relations between Italy and Qatar in the defence sector.”
“Thanks to the dedication of the institutions and the sponsor companies, we’re bringing to Doha a striking sample of the excellence of the Italian industrial production,” noted Salzano, as he lauded the state-of-the-art facilities at Hamad Port yesterday.
The vessel, an anti-submarine warfare unit, is equipped with systems designed, produced and integrated by Leonardo, a 30-year-old company in Qatar, which provides naval defence systems and later, security systems in air traffic management.
The frigate also has onboard the NH90 NFH multi-role helicopter with specific avionics and mission equipment for naval operations produced by Leonardo.
“It is the first occasion on my career that I am here in Doha. I am proud to be commanding officer of the frigate Carabiniere and it is indeed an honour to bring this cutting-edge technological jewel all around the globe to represent the excellence of Italian entrepreneurial industries,” Commander Francesco Pagnotta said.