60% increase in floor space booking
One hundred and sixty-five foreign defence industries are part of the 1,000-strong exhibitors at the DefExpo 2020 scheduled for 5-9 Feb 2020 in Lucknow, the Defence Ministry said on 27 Jan 2020.
Comparatively, the Chennai DefExpo 2018 had 702 companies including 160 overseas.
The Ministry reported 60% increase in booked exhibition space to 42,800 sq m this year, up from around 26,774 sq m in 2018 DefExpo edition.
Defence Ministers and Service Chiefs of 35 countries have confirmed their participation for the DefExpo.
New business collaborations will be forged as a substantial number of Memoranda of Undertaking (MoUs) are expected to be inked during the Expo.
Themed ‘India: The Emerging Defence Manufacturing Hub’, the expo aims to bring the leading technologies in the defence sector under one roof and provide a myriad of opportunities for the government, private manufactures and startups.
The event will cover the entire spectrum of the country’s aerospace, defence and security interests, said the Ministry.
The sub theme of the exhibition is ‘Digital Transformation of Defence’ which aligns with the concept of the future battlefield.
Focus will be on manufacturing for the aerospace and defence sector through application of newer technologies.
In addition to exhibiting products and technologies and live demonstrations by the Services, Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and industry will showcase the land, naval, air and internal security systems.
The ‘India Pavilion’ will exclusively showcase the jointness between the public and private sector, including Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)/Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and innovation eco-system, which is the key to the way forward.
There will be a sizeable Uttar Pradesh Pavilion at the DefExpo venue as the state plays host to the international and local defence industries.
Apart from displaying industrial prowess and huge potential for the investors, the UP government will organise several cultural programmes showcasing rich cultural heritage of the northern state. A unique experience for the visitors is planned at the Tent City, which is being especially erected at the venue.
The Central government has set up Defence Industrial Corridor in Uttar Pradesh with identification of six nodes. A Defence Planning Committee has also been formed.
The State Government has planned a defence manufacturing corridor along with the proposed Bundelkhand Expressway which will help in making India self-reliant in the field of defence production.
The DefExpo will play the role of a catalyst in attracting not only investments but also cutting-edge technologies to the region, said the Ministry in a curtain raiser. fiinews.com
