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The initial defense trade exhibition in Belgium, Bedex, was arranged within a year by 28-year-old Yassine Rafik, a Belgian with Moroccan heritage and former representative of the French-speaking liberal party MR.

This week, the fair commenced at the Heysel Arena in Brussels, gathering over 200 defense sector exhibitors for three days of professional connections and commercial agreements. The event will be accessible to the general public on Saturday.

Grown up in Rabat, Rafik is the child of a Belgian diplomat and a Moroccan mother, and the grandson of a high-ranking officer in the Moroccan military, a heritage he claims influenced his initial fascination with the armed forces. «I was very close to my grandfather… As a child I wanted to be a soldier, but my mother was too scared of that», he mentioned.VRT NWS.

The fair includes opening speeches from NATO leader Mark Rutte and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, with attendees such as Defense Minister Theo Francken and the EU Defense Commissioner. As per Rafik, the event receives “no funding at all,” with sponsorship provided by defense firms like FN, RTX, and Lockheed Martin. Belgian and EU organizations also have exhibition areas, although Rafik notes that some booths were offered at no cost.

The initiative was introduced with the backing of entrepreneur Joan Condijts, who serves as CEO of Deficom, a company that contributed a six-digit amount to the event.

The young coordinator is already planning to hold the event again. «There will certainly be a repetition in 2027», he mentioned.