Over 30 MoUs signed at International Defence Exhibition’
Foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari inaugurated the 11th International Defense Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS 2022) instead of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif who tested positive for COVID-19.Organized by the Defense Export Promotion Organization (DEPO), the four-day exhibition aspires to be the top defense industry platform for major national and international players by encouraging them to display their latest technological innovations. According to the organizers of the event, over 500 exhibitors from Turkiye, China, North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Far East have set up stalls at the Karachi Expo Center where the mega event has been arranged. Nearly 60 percent of participants are international manufacturing companies while the rest are local firms. Addressing the inaugural ceremony, the foreign minister said the country’s defense industry had achieved a significant level of quality and reliability, adding that its products could easily compete with other military good available in the international market. Addressing the closing cere Addressing the closing ceremony of the International Defence Exhibition held at the Expo Centre, Karachi, the defence production minister said, “Our country has showcased one of the best and technologically advanced air and ground equipment in the global market, thus, proudly achieving self-sufficiency in many fields related to the defence sector.”
IDEAS 2022 concludes
He concluded: “We have achieved all targets of holding the IDEAS 2022. Around 285 foreign defence delegations from 64 countries participated, which showed the significance and success of the exhibition.” Meanwhile, briefing the media, Major General Muhammad Arif Malik, DG DEPO, said some of the major indigenously developed products were showcased in IDEAS-2022, including Main Battle Tank, Al-Khalid, Al-Zarrar, JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft, armoured personnel carriers, armed UAV and others. “We received a very good response from Turkey, China, North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and the Far East,” he said. The director general DEPO said that the impact of the event would be large-scale, adding Pakistan is producing high-quality defence products at competitive rates. Pakistan would continue to hold IDEAS biennially as it has a great potential to export defence products across different continents of the world. Later, the exhibitors were recognised by giving away certificates and participation awards. During the award ceremony, the Sindh Police have been awarded with the Best Stall Award in the category of national exhibitors in the 11th Edition of International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) 2022, held from November 15-18, 2022, at the Karachi Expo Centre.