Defence Minister to inaugurate Defence Expo 2010 on Monday

New Delhi, Feb 12(ANI): Defence Minister A.K. Antony will inaugurate the sixth Defence Exposition at Pragati Maidan in the national capital on Monday.

Announcing this in during a press conference in the national capital, Secretary Defence Production R.K. Singh said the four-day event will be the largest ever defence exposition in Asia.

It will showcase India's emergence as an attractive destination for investment in the Defence Sector and act as a platform for alliances and joint ventures in Defence industry, he added.

Singh said 650 companies from over 35 countries would display weapon systems for Army and Navy.

Major participants are from USA, UK, Russia, Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Korea, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine, Germany, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Israel Italy, Malaysia and South Africa. rganized by the Department of Defence Production, the exhibition will continue till February 18.

Dedicated to global land and naval systems business activity - from suppliers to manufacturers, technology providers to services the defence exposition also offers an opportunity to the international defence industry to promote and showcase their products and services.

The Defence Production Secretary said the exposition would project the emergence of India as an attractive market as well as an investment destination for joint ventures in defence industry.

The exhibition has generated attention globally and has carved a niche amongst major defence exhibitions around the world, he added.

The defence exposition was conceptualized in 1998 with an objective to promote defence exports from India and exhibit the capabilities of Indian defence research and development.

The first exhibition was held in 1999 and subsequently in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008.

While a modest 197 exhibitors participated in the first Def Expo, the biennial event will feature 650 exhibitors in its sixth edition this year. (ANI)