"Eight hundred forty four companies have confirmed to take part in Indo Defense Expo," the director of technology and defense industry of the Directorate General of Defense Potentials of the Ministry of Defense, Brigadier General Jan Pieter Ate, said.
He noted that the 573 companies already confirming their participation in the 7th international defense industry exhibition are from abroad, while 271 are Indonesian.
"The number is an increase of around 25 percent or more than 200 defense industries," he said.
At the 5th Indo Defense Expo, 603 companies took part.
"The interest of exhibitors from home and abroad is increasing," he said.
Info Defense 2016 Expo and Forum is a promotional event for manufacturers of international defense and security equipment.
Those domestic companies participating in the exhibition include aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia, arms producer PT Pindad, electronic equipment industry PT LEN Industri, ship building company PT Dok Perkapalan Kodja Bahari, telecommunication company PT Industri Telekomunikasi Indonesia, steel company PT Krakatau Steel, ship building company PT Industri Kapal Indonesia and ship building industry PT PAL Indonesia.
Besides exhibitions, an international seminar will also be held, with the theme "Achieving Comprehensive Maritime Surveillance and Security through Technology Innovation and Partnership."
The seminar will discuss international cooperation issues through technological innovations, within the framework of maritime security in the region.
Brigadier General Jan Pieter Ate said the Indo Defense Expo could increase cooperation among defense ministers from various countries.
"There will be 28 official delegations that will attend the event, including 22 from countries that have set up pavilions," he said.
Six foreign defense ministers, from Greece, Pakistan, Singapore, Timor Leste, the Czech Republic and the Philippines, have expressed their interest in attending the expo.
"We will facilitate joint production, joint development and intensification," he said.
He added that he hoped more cooperation agreements would be signed by defense industry players.
Other countries that will send delegations are Laos, Sweden, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Italy, Australia, Brazil, Turkey, Japan, Belarus, Vietnam, France, Russia, Poland and Britain.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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