With the participation of 261 foreign companies from 34 countries including China, Turkey, Russia, US, Europe etc, the 9th International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) will give a clear and loud message to India that the world is with Pakistan.
Although the Indian government has vowed to isolate Pakistan at international level, the 9th IDEAS with the induction of nine new countries has served a blow to their depraved scheme.
Speaking to the media at a curtain raiser of the 9th biennial IDEAS-2016 at Expo centre, commodore Tahir Javeed along with Director Coordination Brigadier Waheed Mumtaz and Deputy Director ISPR Karachi Colonel Zeeshan Faisal, said that the IDEAS, which would commence from November, 22 at Karachi Expo Center, would give a message that Pakistan had advance techniques and more capable to deal in any situation.
"We have received overwhelming response from the exhibitors as well as delegations from around the globe which would boost our confidence and ensure the success of IDEAS 2016," said Commodore Tahir, Director Media of Defence Export Promotion Organisation (DEPO), Ministry of Defence Production.
The Exhibition will open on November 22, 2016 for officially invited delegations comprising senior officials of foreign countries, exhibitors and trade visitors from abroad and inland, he added.
"Holding of IDEAS-2016 is a proud moment for all of us and is a clear manifestation of the fact that Pakistan does not lag behind in quality defence production," he said and added that 90 delegations would represent 43 countries from around the globe, of which around 30 delegations are high-level headed either by the Defence Ministers, Defence Secretaries, Chiefs of Defence Staff or services chiefs of the respective countries. In addition, some 418 firms will exhibit their products, of which, 261 are foreign from 34 countries and 157 firms are local, he maintained.
Due to proactive marketing strategy of DEPO, nine new countries including Luxembourg, Denmark, Belarus, Poland, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Belgium, Nigeria, and Romania are participating in IDEAS-2016.
"We have booked a major portion of available space at the Expo Center to accommodate defence companies from Turkey, China, Russia, North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Far East. This time 8th hall has been made available to accommodate the increasing number of exhibitors," he added.
Director Media further said that some of the major indigenously developed products will be showcased in IDEAS-2016 including Main Battle Tank, Al-Khalid, JF-17 Thunder Fighter aircraft, Super Mushshak, K-8 Aircraft, Fast Attack Craft Missile Boats, UAVs, Armoured Personnel Carriers, Premium Grade Military Hardware and related technology.
During the IDEAS-2016, there will be multiple high level meetings planned on the sidelines of the exhibition amongst foreign delegates, key government officials, and participants of the exhibition for forging alliances in defence production.
International defence seminar and conferences have also been planned for affording opportunities to the services for expressing their defence capabilities.
On the occasion, Erum Awan, SP traffic also briefed about the traffic plan and alternate arrangements for traffic in order to facilitate general public during the rush hours of IDEAS-2016.