Preparations are on in full swing for the 11th edition of the biennial mega defence exhibition, DefExpo 2020, to be held in Lucknow between February 5-9, 2020. The theme of the Expo is ‘India: The Emerging Defence Manufacturing Hub’. The aim is to bring leading technologies in the defence sector under one roof and provide a myriad of opportunities for the government, private manufactures and startups. The event will cover the entire spectrum of the country's aerospace, defence and security interests.
A record number of over 989 exhibitors, including 165 foreign companies, have registered for the Expo so far. In the previous edition of the DefExpo held in Chennai, 702 companies had participated. Defence Ministers and Service Chiefs of 18 countries have confirmed their participation for the event and the number is expected to increase further.
The sub-theme of the exhibition is ‘Digital Transformation of Defence’ which aligns with the concept of the future battlefield. Manufacturing for the aerospace and defence sector through application of newer technologies will also be focused upon. In addition to exhibiting products and technologies and live demonstrations by the Services, Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and industry will showcase the land, naval, air and internal security systems. The ‘India Pavilion’ will exclusively showcase the jointness between the public and private sector, including Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)/Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and innovation eco-system, which is the key to the way forward.
The Central government has set up Defence Industrial Corridor in Uttar Pradesh with identification of six nodes. A Defence Planning Committee has also been formed. The Government of UP has planned to build a defence manufacturing corridor along with the proposed Bundelkhand Expressway which will help in making India self-reliant in the field of defence production. The DefExpo will play the role of a catalyst in attracting not only investments but also cutting-edge technologies to the region.
The DefExpo 2020 is expected to see participation from over 70 countries and will be in line with the biggest of the international defence exhibitions.
For this exhibition, technology has been used as an enabler and for the first time the DefExpo app was released by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on December 27, 2019 which is available on Apple App Store and Android Play Store. The app provides detailed information about the day-to-day events; participating exhibitors; DPSUs, guest speakers of seminars/webinars; publications i.e., electronic brochures and e-books; maps and directions of the venues and city weather.
Rajnath Singh reviewed the preparations of the event with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow on January 5, 2020.
