Pakistan to hold int'l defence exhibition on Wednesday

A total of 135 foreign and 74 Pakistani firms will display their defence equipment and machinery in an international defence exhibition beginning in the country's port city of Karachi on Wednesday, organizers said Tuesday. About 80 foreign delegations, including 24 high level ones headed either by their respective defence ministers, secretaries or service chiefs, are attending the five-day International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS 2012), spokesman for the exhibition said. Commodore Siddique Akber, Director (Media) of Defence Export Promotion Organization (DEPO), told a news conference in Karachi that separate country pavilions have been reserved for Turkey and China. Adequate space has also been made available to accommodate defence companies from North America, South America and Asia, he added. In reply to a question, he said the exhibition will be open for officially invited delegations comprising senior officials of foreign countries and trade visitors from abroad as well as from the country. Another defence official, Brigadier Mazhar Mumtaz said potential buyers include countries from Far East, the Middle East, Central Asia and South Asia. "Pakistan's markets are the countries that are not war intensified as Central Asia, South Asia and Africa," he said responding to queries raised by the media. He, however, clarified that DEPO could only facilitate exhibition of defence equipment and goods while availing of this opportunity and marketing were the responsibility of the exhibitors themselves. Commodore Siddique Akber said decision makers from foreign countries would be provided with a chance to meet local exhibitors and manufacturers that may further open opportunities for outsourcing as well as joint ventures. He said several high level meetings have also been planned on the sidelines of IDEAS 2012 that would promote potential of Pakistan Defence Industry on the intentional horizons. The conference will include seminars with major focus on " Security Outlook 2025 - Future Security Trend and Challenges for Defence Industry in Mounting Technological Response," said Media Director of DEPO. Scholars from Pakistan, the United States, Turkey, China and other countries would make their respective presentations, he said. An international defence conference is also scheduled with different relevant issues to be discussed.