Uttar Pradesh is set to organise the biggest ever Defence Expo, which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Lucknow on February 5, making the state an important destination for defence and aero space manufacturing.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the biggest Defence Expo till now would be held in Lucknow between February 4 and 9 and would be inaugurated by the PM on February 5.
In a joint press conference with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath here on Sunday, Singh said that this year the Defence Expo would be held in over 200 acre area and so far, around 925 companies had confirmed their participation.
The defence minister held a meeting with the UP chief minister to discuss the upcoming Defence Expo 2020. He was informed that 925 companies, including multi-nationals, were expected to take part in the expo.
The Defence Expo 2018 was held in Bengaluru and 702 companies had taken part in it.
The defence minister also released a promo film on the occasion.
“The focus of this year’s Defence Expo is digital transformation of defence. New technology, including aerospace, will be introduced in this year’s expo,” Singh said, adding that the highlight of this year’s Defence Expo was that it would have a UP pavilion where industries from the state would showcase their wares.
In his address, the chief minister said that his government had converted challenges to opportunities and changed the perception of the state.
“It is a testimony of good governance that a number of events, including Investors’ Summit and Kumbh, were organised in the state that gave Uttar Pradesh a global identity. Now, the Defence Expo will help in making Lucknow a hub of defence industrial activity,” he said.
Yogi also talked about Bundelkhand Expressway along which the defence industrial corridor would come up .
Joint Secretary Chandrakant Bharti said that the Defence Expo would be the biggest in terms of area, exhibitors and revenue and 65 memorandums of understanding were expected to be signed.
The official confirmed that companies from US, Russia, France, UK, South Korea would be among 70 countries that had confirmed their participation in the expo.
All the three forces will exhibit their prowess in the expo. Seminars by different agencies will also be held. UP will also showcase its cultural heritage in this expo.