THE Eighth International Defense Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) was successfully conducted from December 1 to 4, 2014, at the Karachi Expo Center.
It received an overwhelming response from across the globe. A total of 56 nations were represented in the IDEAS 2014 in the form of foreign delegations and international exhibitors. Eighty-eight delegations, representing 50 nations, attended the IDEAS 2014, including 47 high-level delegations headed either by their defense ministers, secretaries or services chiefs of the respective countries. A total of 333 companies (256 foreign and 77 local) exhibited their products during the exhibition.
The IDEAS 2014 embodied a host of activities, comprising a display of different defense products and equipment, seminars, sideline conferences and networking of high-level delegates with exhibitors and original equipment manufacturers.
The IDEAS 2014 was inaugurated by Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. The ceremony was attended by official delegates, chairman joint chiefs of staff committee, services chiefs, senior government officials, foreign diplomats and a large number of exhibitors.
The IDEAS brought together international manufacturers and suppliers of products and services to explore the opportunities for cooperation in the field of defense production through joint ventures, outsourcing and collaboration.
The IDEAS exhibited a wide variety of defense systems, ranging from equipment used in Third World countries to the most sophisticated technology from the West, and showcases technology of tomorrow and innovations in defense with more than 2000 weapon systems and items of equipment on display.
Some of the major indigenously developed products showcased during the IDEAS 2014 included main battle tank Al-Khalid, fighter aircraft JF-17 Thunder, jet trainer aircraft K-8 and a variety of UAVs, etc. The IDEAS 2014 offered a unique opportunity to the international delegates and visitors in acquiring an insight into the entire defense manufacturing and training capabilities of Pakistan, exhibited under a single umbrella. It may be pertinent to highlight that Pakistan has a large defense manufacturing, training and support infrastructure in place, which not only meets the needs of Pakistani Armed Forces, but also has the capacity to fulfill demands of other countries with exceptionally high-quality products at mutually acceptable terms.
Among the international exhibitors, exclusive country pavilions were set up by Turkey and China. Defense products and equipment from companies representing North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Far East were also impressively displayed through various stalls. Russian Helicopter Co. also exhibited its products. Nine countries participated for the first time, these were Australia, Canada, Hungary, Lithuania, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.
The IDEAS 2014 also featured sideline conferences. Learned international and local defense analysts participated, including Pakistan’s services chiefs, who candidly shared their views in these sideline conferences.
A seminar was conducted in the evening of December 1. The main theme was “Matching Research and Production to the Challenges of a Dynamic Security Environment.” Gen. Rashad Mahmood NI (M), chairman joint chiefs of staff committee, was the chief guest. The panel of speakers included prominent international defense analysts and expert William Stevenson, executive director of Malaysian Institute of Defense and Security, Malaysia; Dr. Maleeha Lodhi, former ambassador, Pakistan; Dr. Vladimir P. Kozin, head, group of advisers to the director of Russian Institute for Strategic Studies, Russia; and Air Marshal Javaid Ahmed, chairman PAC Board, Pakistan. The presiding officer of the seminar, Munir Akram, former ambassador and permanent representative of Pakistan to the United Nations in New York, in his concluding remarks stated that “given the fast pace of technological change, it would be perfectly natural to expect development of significantly new technologies, including those which will alleviate our security and threat concerns.”
On diplomatic front, foreign delegates/trade visitors and the media endorsed the efficiency of the IDEAS 2014 as an extremely valuable and interactive forum for the defense trade. Signing of several memorandum of understandings between the governments and private companies has further enhanced the utility and success of this event.
The IDEAS is held biennially, and the next event will be held in 2016.