NEW DELHI: Showing enthusiasm in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Make In India agenda, over 1,000 foreign and Indian companies are participating in this year’s Defence Expo being held in Goa next week.
The largest contingent from abroad this time will be the US. Ninety-three American companies are participating in the exhibition followed by 71 Russian firms, 46 from UK, 39 from Germany, 28 each from France and Israel, besides others. In total, 490 foreign defence firms are attending the 9th edition of the DefExpo, the first time it is being held outside the national capital.
In 2014, 369 foreign companies had participated. Among the Indian companies too, there has been a significant jump. In 2014, 256 domestic companies had come, the figure has crossed 540 this time.
Unlike last time, there is no bar on blacklisted companies from taking part in the Defence Expo.
“This is a commercial exhibition. You can come and participate. Debarment is from the point of view of purchase by the Ministry of Defence. They can showcase their products to other countries and enter into collaboration,” Secretary (Defence Production) Ministry of Defence, A K Gupta said.
He was replying to a question on whether blacklisted companies would be allowed to participate.
The 4-day exposition begins on March 28. In February 2014, when the DefExpo was held in Delhi, the Defence Ministry had decided to keep 27 Indian and foreign firms, including those facing CBI inquiries, out of the biennial military exhibition.