The Hindu Business Line : Indian companies to participate in Abu Dhabi defence expo

PROMINENT Indian companies are participating in the upcoming 7th International Defence Exhibition and Conference IDEX 2005, which will be held in Abu Dhabi from February 12 to 17.

The key exhibitors from India at IDEX 2005 are BrahMos, BEML, Ashok Leyland and M.Kumar Udyog, a spokesperson for the organisers told Business Line.

BrahMos, which has participated in an earlier expo here, had received a good response at the premier international event.

BEML and Ashok Leyland will be exhibiting their products applicable for use in the defence industry. M.Kumar Udyog, a defence-related clothing and equipment firm, will display helmets, insulated materials and other items related to defence requirements. Two ships from India are also berthing at the naval show as part of the expo.

Over 800 exhibitors, from 45 countries will participate in IDEX 2005. Mr Saeed Saif Bin Jaber Al Suwaidi, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ADCC&I) and Deputy Chairman of Generala Exhibitions Conference, said in a statement that the last edition in 2003 drew widespread participation.

IDEX 2005 will be bigger and better, he said. IDEX is playing a key role in the important emerging markets of West Asia and Asia, emphasising the need for co-operation in armament acquisition and integration, Mr Al Suwaidi said.

Stating that an event of this nature was especially appropriate to this region, where the annual defence budgets for the West Asia-North Africa region, India, Pakistan and Malaysia, totalled more than $100 billion in 2003, Mr Al Suwaidi, said, "GCC countries in 2003, had annual defence budgets of $25.38 billion in total and defence spending in the region as elsewhere in the world is increasing, with the focus on sophisticated technologies that ensure that a country's armed forces, defence and security infrastructure act as suitable deterrents to unprovoked aggressors."

Over 31 national pavilions, more than 35,000 visitors and 68 official delegations are expected to visit IDEX 2005.

"Almost all the countries taking part especially India, Greece, Korea and Malaysia have significantly increased their space at the event, since the last edition," Mr Al Suwaidi said. The ROTORCRAFT (Helicopter) pavilion would be among the new innovations at this year's event and participation in the pavilion was expected from leading international rotorcraft companies. IDEX 2005 will also have an increased focus on UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles). The market for UAVs, which perform reconnaissance and surveillance missions, is expected to be worth $10.6 billion worldwide, by 2013, he added.

The expo would also include live firing and demonstrations of a variety of defence related heavy equipment and vehicles. Jane's Information Group will organise the Gulf Defence Conference on February 12 with the theme "The cauldron of Iraq — its implications for security and defence."

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page