Defence exports over $150m: DEPO DG
Staff Report
KARACHI: The country’s defence related exports have increased to over $150 million in 2006 from the $20 million in exports in 2000, according to Defence Export Promotion Organisation (DEPO) Director General Maj Gen Syed Absar Hussain.
He was speaking at a press conference at Karachi Expo Centre on Thursday.
The DEPO director-general said most of the country’s defence related exports went to the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. He said the public sector produced the majority of defence-related exports, however, 65 private sector companies were also involved in the production of defence related goods. He stated that further efforts were being made to increase production in collaboration with the private sector.
“To achieve this objective, efforts are underway to create a Defence Industries Association (DIA) so that all efforts are galvanized in the right direction,” he added.
He told newsmen that the country was producing weapons in collaboration with France, China, Turkey, South Africa and Germany. We are trying to undertake joint production with some other countries, he said.
While speaking about the role of the DEPO, Absar Hussain that it had been established to promote defence related exports by promoting three major areas: equipment, training and services. He pointed out that that Pakistan was one of the few countries in the world which had the capability to produce quality weapons and to organize exhibitions to promote them.
About the forthcoming International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) 2006 scheduled which will run from Nov 20 to Nov 24, the DEPG DG said that more than 450 delegates and 150 delegations from 90 countries would attend the International Defence Exhibition and seminar. Around 350 exhibitors will display their products over 7,000 square yards of space at the event. A total of 42 delegations from 20 countries attended the event in 2000.
About preparations for the exhibition, he said a meeting of the steering committee for the exhibition was held earlier in the day, in which participants discussed issues such as security, traffic arrangement and accommodation of guests.
“We have discussed traffic arrangements in detail to ensure the smooth flow of traffic during the mega event so that the citizens of Karachi did not suffer much”, he added.
The director-general added that Karachi had been selected as the venue for holding the event as the city had all the required facilities. He added that the government also wanted to project a peaceful image of the city in front of the international media.
He sought the cooperation of the citizens of Karachi for this national event. The DEPO chief said that on November 20, a seminar on “Global Security Environment” will be held at a local hotel while an exhibition will be inaugurated in the evening at Karachi Expo Centre.
He said that on the concluding day, an exhibition of weapons will be held at Manora instead of Sonmiani due to logistical difficulties. He said that Super Mashak and JF-17 aircrafts would be also displayed during the four-day event.
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