US for strengthening Indo-Pacific defence

Chennai: About 20 US companies will participate in the DefExpo 2018 which opens at Thiruvidanthai on East Coast Road, near here on Wednesday. They will radiate their presence at the USA Partnership Pavilion, organised by Kallman Worldwide, Inc., in coordination with numerous government agencies, including the US departments of commerce, defence and state.

Kallman has represented DefExpo in the United States since 2012, and this is its first under the "USA Partnership Pavilion" banner, which President and CEO Tom Kallman says reflects a global trend. Located prominently in the show's Exhibition Hall 3, the Pavilion is a full-service business destination: an efficient location for buyers to meet more US suppliers, an on-site operations center for exhibitors to maximise their exposure and impact at the show, and a networking hub for all to share ideas and insights.

“Now more than ever, success in international trade comes from partnership and teamwork. The new USA Partnership Pavilion sharpens our focus on helping advance America's national security and economic interests by building stronger relationships with our international customers,” Kallman said. “Many of our exhibitors already have significant business partnerships and operations in India and across the Indo-Pacific region. In the years to come, many more will.”

The four-day biennial event to be held from April 11, will demonstrate the collective presence of major American manufacturers, technology innovators, supply-chain leaders and even firearms producers exhibiting at this year's edition, displaying a strong indication of how important India is to the United States, and that buyers and influencers throughout the region are looking to the U.S. for innovative solutions and partners to help ensure their economic and homeland security.

“This is a dynamic period in our bilateral relationship as the United States and India develop the Major Defense Partner relationship and increase cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region,” said Patrick Santillo, US. Department of Commerce Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs.

“India has purchased more than $15 billion in U.S. defense equipment in the past decade, and U.S. companies are cooperating closely with the Indian armed services to deploy these systems to enhance military capabilities and improve interoperability,” he said. “The U.S. defense industry has demonstrated its commitment to partnering with India to provide the highest quality, most reliable, and most technologically advanced defense equipment and systems in the world,” he added.

10th edition of DefExpo starts today, Public to be allowed on April 14

The four-day DefExpo, which will manifest the Indian defence manufacturing capability and shape the Indian defence exports ambition, is set to kickstart in Thiruvidanthai near Mahabalipuram, on Wednesday.

Although the biennial event would commence on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will likely to inaugurate the event formally on Thursday (April 12).

According to the defence sources, unlike previous nine editions of the DefExpo that mostly concentrated on procuring foreign weapons and technologies, the tenth edition would boost India as an arms exporter.

“While showcasing strengths of India's substantial public sector, it will also uncover the country's growing private industry and spreading MSME base for components and sub-systems”, the organisers said. 

Apart from holding a business seminar and signing of MoUs, the Indian defence forces would also conduct live demonstrations of land and flying systems. 

“But no public will be allowed to enter the DefExpo from April 11 to April 13,” the organisers told. However, the public can visit the expo on April 14 and they should possess valid identity card and have to pay '100. “The visitors should present one hour before the opening of the shows. The show will open at 9 am”.

The DefExpo also would extend to Chennai Harbour, as the organisers had anchored Indian warships - Sahyadri and Kamorta. These ships will be opened for the inboard public view. “Those who want to visit warships should report at Island grounds,” organisers said.

According to organisers, more than 50 countries have confirmed their participation in the expo and around 700 exhibitors have confirmed their participation.