No purchase deal during Defexpo 2008: Government

New Delhi, Mar 17 (UNI) No purchase agreements were signed by the government during the recently-concluded Defexpo India 2008, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

In a written reply to Jyotirmoyee Sikdar, Minister of State for Defence Production Rao Inderjit Singh said 475 exhibitors from 31 countries participated in Defexpo India 2008.

These included 273 international companies, he added.

Mr Singh said about 40,000-business visitors saw the exhibition.

As many as 3,490 business inquiries were generated while 21 MoUs signed, he said, adding these were likely to further boost the export of defence items from India.

Mr Singh also said that Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2006 and Defence Procurement Manual (DPM 2006) under implementation with effect from September 1, 2006, provide for direct dealing with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) or authorised vendors or government sponsored export agencies (applicable in case of countries where domestic laws do not permit direct export by OEMs).

Further, the procedures inter-alia incorporate provisions for penalties being imposed if any seller engages any individual or firm, whether Indian or foreign whatsoever, to intercede, facilitate or in any way recommend to the Government of India or any of its functionaries, whether officially or unofficially, to the award of the contract to the seller, he added.

While the actual expenditure under capital acquisition head during 2004-05 was Rs 27208.57 crore, the figure stood at Rs 25490.53 crore in 2005-2006 and Rs 26900.44 crore in 2006-07, the Minister said.

He said the actual expenditure under revenue head (stores) during 2004-05 was Rs 16032.49 crore while the figure stood at Rs 17475.31 crore in 2005-06 and Rs 18902.36 crore in 2006-07.

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