1,500 Companies To Participate In DSA 2018

KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 (Bernama) -- About 1,500 defence related companies from 60 countries are expected to participate in the 16th Defence Service Asia (DSA) Exhibition and Conference 2018. Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein (second from right) said the biennial exhibition and conference scheduled for four days from April 18 at the newly completed Malaysian International Trade and Exhibition Center (MITEC) ,targeted more than 40,000 visitors to come, including 300 high-level delegations from abroad. "We anticipate that these high level foreign visitors will also create significant economic spin offs into other sectors of our economy, including tourism, transport, food and beverages, measuring about an expected US$35 million (RM150 million) in value,” he said at the soft-launch of DSA 2018, here Tuesday. Hishammuddin said, DSA 2018 also aimed to continue its illustrious track record of not just promoting the latest defence technologies and services, but also opening doors to more foreign investment and promoting foreign technology partnerships. "DSA 2018 will be 30 percent bigger in terms of show size, compared to its previous vanue, occupying about 42,000 square metre of space," he said. In addition, Hishammuddin said the National Security Asia 2018 (Natsec Asia), an international exhibition which focuses on national security, will be introduced and held concurrently with the already established DSA. Also present during the ceremony were Deputy Defence Minister Mohd Johari Baharum, Armed Forces Chief Gen Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor, Navy Chief Admiral Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin, Air Force Chief Affendi Buang and Army Chief Zulkiple Kassim. "With eight months to go and already 60 percent of the spaces sold, DSA 2018 is expected to be the best in its series and will surpass the successes of DSA 2016 and previous editions of the exhibition," the minister said. The expected international exhibitors include Aimpoint, Armscor, Aviras, Boeing, Brahmos, CETE, Korea Defence Industry Association, Team Defence Australia and Russian Technologies. (photoBERNAMA) -- BERNAMA