Some of the most devastating weapon systems of the world and other battlefield equipment would be on display in the Capital from February 16 to 19 at the fifth edition of Defexpo.
The US contingent with 46 firms will be the largest of the pavilions being put up by 30 countries
NEW DELHI: Some of the most devastating weapon systems of the world and other battlefield equipment would be on display in the Capital from February 16 to 19 at the fifth edition of Defexpo India 2008, which is expected to be among the biggest arms exhibition of the world today.
In reverence to India’s size as one of the biggest open tender importers in defence, every major defence manufacturer worth its name would be at the exhibition, spread across a whopping 32,000 square meters, according to the organisers.
And in a clear statement of the growing American interest and presence in India, the US contingent with 46 firms would be the largest of the pavilions being put up by 30 countries.
The Defexpo is an international land and naval systems exhibition started in 1999 and originally meant to showcase Indian defence manufacturing capabilities. But now it is among the world’s most talked about military wares’ display, and Indian firms are outnumbered by the foreign firms, truly reflecting India’s over-dependence on foreign suppliers for defence products. In the next five years, India is expected to spend at least $30 billion in foreign defence purchases.
“It is a record in terms of space, number of participants etc,” says secretary (defence production) Pradeep Kumar about the exhibition. “It is today one of the leading exhibitions in the world.” This year, 273 exhibitors from 30 countries and 202 from India are to participate in the exhibition at Pragati Maidan in the Capital. Official delegations from 47 countries and defence ministers from six countries are expected for the exhibition. According to Kumar, roughly 91 new products would be exhibited “as product launches.”
The exhibition would also witness the aggressive pitch being made by India’s private sector to enter defence manufacturing, which has been a state monopoly until the early 2000s. Companies including Tatas, Godrej, L&T, Mahindra and others would be present.
Many of these private Indian players are hoping to strike joint venture deals and other such associations with foreign players, as they look to pocket a significant portion of the offset business. Under the defence procurement policy, in all defence purchases from foreign firms worth over Rs300 crore, at least 30% of the value of the contract should be sourced or invested back to India.
Many private Indian players are also looking at developing products for Indian market. Mahindra Defence and BAE Systems of Europe are in talks to develop a mine-protected vehicle, which are in great demand for various counter-insurgency operations and other military purposes. Similar such negotiations are going on between various foreign firms and Indian companies, and some of these associations could be announced at the Defexpo.
j_josy@dnaindia.net
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