The Hindu Business Line : Nearly 600 cos expected to participate in Aero India ’09

Bangalore, Aug. 12 Aero India 2009 will have nearly 600 domestic and international armament companies taking part, according to the first official communiqué on the event that is exactly six months away.

The aerospace exposition is organised once in two years by the Ministry of Defence and the seventh edition will take place at Air Force Station Yelahanka, 30 km from here, from February 11 to 15, 2009.

The expo comes up at a time when the Ministry has opened up the sector to private sector participation and unveiled a couple of the biggest armament purchase plans in recent years for the Armed Forces, and set off global majors in an intense race among sellers for these deals. The Ministry last week also released its revised Defence Procurement Policy that will govern the purchases.

The Centre is spending nearly Rs 20 crore to augment the infrastructure in and around the IAF base. The Confederation of Indian Industry is the event manager for the expo. The 2007 event was handled by FICCI-Farnborough combine.

Armament majors from the US, the UK, Russia, France, Germany, Italy, Israel, Belgium, Brazil, Spain, Ukraine and the Netherlands have confirmed their participation. Nearly 330 companies from 50 countries and 230 companies from India are to set up their exhibits over an indoor display area of 32,000 sq metres and an additional 5,000 sq metres outdoors. There will be 60 chalets or premium corporate enclaves of some of the majors.

The Defence Minister, Mr A.K. Antony, told officials at the first meeting of the apex committee on Friday that Aero India 2009 should be a benchmark for similar shows being organised in various parts of the world. “Proper lessons must be learned from the past experiences of holding these shows and enough care must be taken to ensure that every participant and stake-holder goes back with happy memories of the show,” the release said.

Nearly 100 different civil and military aircraft will be on display. IAF will fly some of its vintage aircraft. The Ministry of Defence will facilitate interaction between overseas OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and Indian businesses; and for SMEs.

Design hub

“Students of technical and engineering colleges (would be encouraged) to be part of the country’s aim of becoming a design hub in aerospace technologies in the foreseeable future,” the release said.

The Defence Research Development Organisation will host a customary companion seminar on aerospace technologies from February 9 to 11.

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