The 8th land, naval and internal homeland security systems exhibition — Defexpo 2014 —, assumes significance in the background of India’s continued advancement of armed forces modernisation and strengthening the internal security mechanisms. India is one of the biggest arms spenders and most of it is acquired from overseas, as the pace of indigenisation is yet to gain traction.

In this background, Defexpo has come to be a perfect platform for establishing global linkages, partnerships and other agreements that help in India’s quest of modernisation.

It was in 1981 that the Defence Exhibition Organisation (DEO) was created as a nodal agency in 1981 as part of the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, to promote and export potential of defence public sector undertakings, DRDO and the Ordnance Factory Board. Over the years, it has immensely contributed towards export promotion activities on behalf of the Ministry of Defence. It is the nodal and coordination agency for the conduct of two major expositions in India, viz., Aero India and Defexpo India, which have seen exponential growth over the years. The DEO coordinates the participation of Indian defence industries in overseas exhibitions.

This edition of Defexpo to be held from February 6 to 9 has attracted over 550 companies from various parts of the world. While the companies will be exhibiting their wares, the organisers have lined up thoughtprovoking sessions. The Defence Minister A.K. Antony is inaugurating the seminar on ‘Global Partnerships Towards Joint Development and Indigenisation’.

This year the Ministry of Defence has kept out nearly 27 Indian and foreign armament companies from participating in the Defexpo in the wake of scandals.