Record 843 companies register for Goa Defence Expo

NEW DELHI: With the defence sector emerging as a cornerstone for the Make in India initiative the showcase industry event of the ministry of defence – Defence Expo – is set for record participation this year. The four day event, taking place outside the capital for the first time, already has registrations from 843 companies, with at least 44 nations exhibiting their products.

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Senior officials involved in the event have told ET that the participation has hit a new high against the 600-odd companies that registered for the show last year. With Goa set as the new venue for the show, several live demonstration drills have been finalised, something that could never be done at the earlier venue at Pragati Maidan.

While Bharat Forge is set to exhibit its artillery gun at the show, DRDO too is believed to have dispatched its ‘ Dhanush’ towed gun to take part at the show in South Goa. Other live d r i l l s b e i n g planned are for bridge laying systems and tracked vehicles like tanks and armoured personnel carriers.

Among the companies that have already registered, the largest delegation is from India (402) followed by the US that has 87 defence firms participating. Russia at 67 comes in third while large delegations are expected from other major manufacturing nations like Germany (37), Israel (35) and France (33).

Officials have told ET that work on setting up a makeshift venue at Goa is to commence on February 25 and the completed facilities are to be handed over to exhibitors by March 20, a week before the show commences.“The larger venue has given space to accommodate as many companies that wish to participate. Work on temporary structures at the venue is starting and would be complete well before time,” a senior official told ET.