Post Event Report 2014

The chronicles of IDEAS series is one of the continuous success, with IDEAS-2014 as the most consequential in the history of the exhibition industry of Pakistan.

1st - 4th December, 2014

8th International Defence Exhibition & Seminar (IDEAS) was successfully conducted from 1-4 Dec 2014 at Expo Center Karachi. The event was managed by Pakistan's leading event management company Badar Expo Solutions. The event received an overwhelming response from across the globe. A total of 56 nations were represented in IDEAS - 2014 in the form of Foreign Delegations and International Exhibitors. 88 Delegations representing 50 nations attended IDEAS - 2014 including 47 high level delegations headed either by their Defence 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.


IDEAS - 2014 embodied a host of activities comprising of a display of different defence products and equipment's, an impressive Inauguration Ceremony, a seminar, sideline conferences and networking of high level delegates with exhibitors and OEMs.


The Inauguration Ceremony of IDEAS - 2014 was conducted on 1st December 2014. Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. 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 Seminar, conducted on the evening of 1st December at Movenpick Hotel. The main theme of the Seminar was "Matching research and production to the challenges of a dynamic security environment". General Rashad Mahmood NI (M) Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee was the chief guest. The panel of speakers included prominent international defence analysts and expert William Stevenson (Executive Director of Malaysian Institute of Defence and Security, Malaysia) Dr. Maleeha Lodhi (Ex-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, Mr. 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 significant new technologies, including those, which will alleviate our security and threat concerns".


IDEAS-2014 also featured Sideline Conferences. Learned international and local defence analysts participated including Pakistan's Services Chiefs who candidly shared their views in these sideline conferences.


Some of the major indigenously developed products showcased during IDEAS - 2014, included Main Battle Tank Al-Khalid, Fighter Aircraft JF-17 Thunder, Jet Trainer Aircraft K-8 and a variety of UAVs etc. IDEAS - 2014 offered a unique opportunity to the international delegates and visitors in acquiring an insight into the entire defence manufacturing and training capabilities of Pakistan, exhibited under a single umbrella. It may be pertinent to highlight that Pakistan has a large defence 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.


Amongst the international exhibitors, exclusive country pavilions were set up by Turkey and China. Defence products and equipment's from companies representing North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Far East were also impressively displayed through various stalls. Russian Helicopter Company also exhibited it stall. There were nine countries like Australia, Canada, Hungary, Lithuania, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Thailand and UAE, who participated in IDEAS for the first time.


On diplomatic front, Foreign Delegates / Trade Visitors and Media endorsed the efficiency of IDEAS - 2014 as an extremely valuable and interactive forum for the defence trade. Signing of several MoUs between the governments and private companies has further enhanced the utility and success of this event.


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