JEDDAH, 20 August 2004 — Pakistan will showcase its defense products at the 3rd International Defense Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) to be held in Karachi from Sept. 13-18.
The defense seminar “The changing Global Security Environment” will be followed by a four-day exhibition beginning on Sept. 13.
Delegates from over 50 countries are expected to attend the seminar, while major international participants at the exhibition will include companies from Austria, Belgium, China, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malaysia, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Thailand, The Netherlands, Turkey, UAE, UK, Ukraine and USA.
Products ranging from light firearms, UAVs, rockets and missiles, electronics and optical equipment, rocket launchers to heavy machinery, APCs and tanks as well as fighter and trainer aircraft will be on display.
IDEAS 2004 is seen by defense manufacturers as an important event in view of the recent developments in the region.
Since the inception of this exhibition in 2000, the country’s defense exports have increased tremendously with the target for 2003-04 now fixed at $147 million. Defense exports are expected to increase to at least $500 million annually in the next five years.
At a recent briefing, Director General of the Defense Export Promotion Organization (DEPO) Maj. Gen. Syed Ali Hamid and Aasim A. Siddiqui, chairman and managing director of Pegasus Consultancy (Pvt.) Ltd. told the defense attaches of foreign missions in Pakistan about the meetings planned between the official delegations of participating countries with the president, the prime minister and chiefs of the armed forces.
Around 14,000 defense professionals visited the first exhibition. The number of such visitors rose to 20,000 in the second show. Similarly, the number of countries participating in the show increased from 20 to 30. Defense accords and MOUs were signed during the exhibitions held previously.
Besides the mobility demonstration of tracked and wheeled vehicles, a live firing demonstration has been planned during the IDEAS 2004.
Demonstration of air-to-air, air-to-ground, ground-to-air and ground-to-ground weapon systems, static display of naval fleets, missiles boats and submarine would be the main highlights of the forthcoming event.
Pakistan has achieved a prominent place in the international defense markets and IDEAS 2004 is apt to further strengthen the understanding and cooperation between nations jointly involved in serving the cause of global peace in which Pakistan is playing a key role.
