The 12th edition of DefExpo-2022, India’s flagship Defence exhibition is scheduled at Gandhinagar, Gujarat from 18-22 October 2022. It is Asia's largest exhibition on Land, Naval and Homeland Security Systems, with a focus on projecting the country as an emerging defence manufacturing hub, one of the top priorities for government in defence sector. This is the first-ever edition which is exclusively for Indian companies and promises to bring new technologies and technological solutions and will showcase India’s Defence manufacturing capabilities to the world. Ministry’s efforts in partnership with the State has led to DefExpo22 being a Sold Out event in less than two months; a record in itself.      

Defence Secretary, Dr. Ajay Kumar, IAS  along with Additional Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjay Jaju, IAS visited Gandhinagar on 14 October 2022 for an on-site review of all preparations towards forthcoming flagship event. Dr. Ajay Kumar took the stock of the preparations at Mahatma Mandir Convention & Exhibition Centre (MMCEC), regarding various arrangements for conduct of events at DefExpo 2022. The first ever event is all engaging with two Defence Ministers’ Conclaves viz India-Africa Defence Dialogue and IOR+ Conclave wherein 75+ countries are meeting including bilateral meetings during the event. He directed all stakeholders to take ownership and hasten up the last minute stitching up to be ready in all respects and make the event both memorable and a grand success.  He also visited Indian Pavilion and other halls at Helipad Exhibition Centre (HEC) where the various defence companies will showcase their equipment and products.

The Defence Secretary also took the opportunity to call on the Hon’ble Governor of Gujarat Acharya Devvrat and extended an Invitation on behalf of MoD to him for DefExpo 2022.

He also called on Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Bhupendra Patel and invited him to DefExpo 2022.

The Defence Secretary briefed both dignitaries on the preparations being made by MoD in conjunction with the State Govt. He appreciated the coordination and synergy between MoD and Government of Gujarat towards ensuring the smooth planning which he sees as a successful DefExpo-2022. 

Later, the Defence Secretary chaired a Press Conference where he exhorted media personnel to be a partner in making the event a huge success.

The event is being planned in the largest ever total area of over one lakh sqm. The largest ever 1325 Exhibitors have already registered to attend the five-day mega exhibition as against 1028 in the previous edition and the numbers have been ever increasing.

Exhibition is being held in a first ever four venue format - exhibition at the Helipad Exhibition Centre (HEC), inaugural/ official functions and seminars at Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Centre (MMCEC), live demonstrations showcasing the equipment and skill set of the armed forces, DPSUs and industry on all five days at the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad and ships visit of Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard at Porbandar. In addition, Drone Show at Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad will be a major highlight of the Event. The drone show at Gandhinagar is the largest the country has seen this far.

DefExpo 2022 will mark the celebration of one year of the formation of the seven new defence companies, carved out of the erstwhile Ordnance Factories. All these companies will be participating for the first time at DefExpo.

The India Pavilion - a marque pavilion of Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence - will showcase the maturity of indigenous defence products, start-ups, latest technology, including Artificial Intelligence in defence, and will present India’s vision for 2047. It has been named ‘Path to Pride’. Over 50 start-ups will showcase their products at the pavilion. For the first time, States/Union Territories have been invited to set up pavilions at the event, with several confirming their participation. More than     300 partnerships in terms of MoUs, Transfer of Technology agreements and product launches are being finalised.

During the 5-day event, first 3 days are exclusive business days & last 2 days i.e. 21 & 22 October 2022 are for general public including young entrepreneurs & college/school millennial of Gujarat.

Ministry of Defence has also launched DefExpo-2022 website (www.defexpo.gov.in) and Mobile App which is available on iOS & Android Play Store, to provides detailed information on the day-to-day events; participating exhibitors; DPSUs, guest speakers of seminars/webinars; publications i.e., electronic brochures & e-books; maps & directions of venues & city weather.

YP/GP/JD

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