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International Defence Exhibition and
Seminar-2008 (IDEAS-2008), held from 24 to 28 November 2008 at
Karachi Expo Centre Pakistan showcased a wide variety of technology,
ranging from low cost conventional military equipment to the most
sophisticated systems from the West. This exhibition provided a
perfect interactive platform for defence forces to assess and select
the best products and technology to cater for their respective
defence-related requirements.
 Participants from 59 countries converged at IDEAS-2008. The
organizers rightly claimed IDEAS-2008 to be the biggest and most
consequential in the series as well as in the history of the
exhibition industry of Pakistan. The forum included the exhibition,
seminar mobility display and meetings on the sidelines.
The successful and dignified conduct of the mega event from 24 to 28
Nov 2008 attains added prominence in view of the security concerns
and the travel advisory by certain governments
 cautioning their
nationals. However, the foreign exhibitors, trade visitors and other
participants made their own assessments on such travel advisory and
overwhelmingly decided to participate in IDEAS 2008 to further their
strategic interests. Consequently, the event happened to attract
largest number of exhibitors, foreign defence delegations including
trade visitors, and above all, the largest ever space occupied by
Pakistani and foreign defence industry, when compared with previous
IDEAS.
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International
Defence Seminar |
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 The first event of IDEAS was the International Defence Seminar
held in the morning of 24th Nov at a local 5 star hotel’s hall.
Planning and organization of the seminar, its overall themes and
topics and the way its proceedings were conducted by the master of
ceremony, the two presiding officers and the six speakers i.e. one
each from China, France, Italy, Turkey, US and Pakistan were all
commendable. Topics selected for the Seminar were mostly focused on
defence industrial collaboration. The Defense Minister of Pakistan
gave his key note address while Director General DEPO opened the
proceedings with his welcome speech.
The Foreign Speakers and Presiding Officers included:
 a.
Mr. Mustafa Egeli,
Group Manager Industrial Cooperation,
Havelsan, Turkey
b. Mr. Betrand de Fonvielle, Senior Vice President, Strategy
and Marketing for Middle East, EADS, France
c. Mr. Fbrizio Giulianini, Executive Group Director Sales and
Business Development and Managing Director of MBDA, Italy
d. Prof. Zhou Rong, Chief of Guang Ming, China
e. Mr. Tim Kennedy, President, The Strategic Policy Group, USA
f. Dr. Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema, DG Islamabad Policy Research Institute,
Pakistan
Presiding Officers
a. Mr. Murat Bayir Under Secretary Defence Industries Turkey
b. Mr. Inam ul Haq Former Foreign Minister of Pakistan
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Measuring Success of IDEAS-2008
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 IDEAS-2008 happens to be the biggest, both in size and stature, not
only in the IDEAS series itself but in the history of the exhibition
industry of Pakistan.
This fact is substantiated by each determinant given in the
succeeding paragraphs.
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani cutting the ribbon to
formally inaugurate the 5th Int’l Defence Exhibition "IDEAS - 2008"
at Karachi Expo Centre
IDEAS-2008 occupied the largest exhibition space,
both indoor and outdoor, in the series since year 2000. The
following table will give comparative data of space actually
occupied by the exhibits in all the IDEAS:-`
 a. IDEAS – 2000 : 11,500 sqm – 3 x Halls
b. IDEAS – 2002 : 12,000 sqm – 3 x Halls
c. IDEAS – 2004 : 15,000 sqm – 4 x Halls
d. IDEAS – 2006 : 17,500 sqm – 6 x Halls
plus 25000 sqm outdoor
e. IDEAS – 2008 : 20,000 sqm Indoors
30,000 sqm Outdoors
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Exhibiting
Companies |
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 IDEAS-2008 also had the honour of attracting
the largest number of the exhibitors, both local and foreign, as is
shown in the following table:-
a. IDEAS – 2000 : 125
b. IDEAS – 2002 : 140
c. IDEAS – 2004 : 165
d. IDEAS – 2006 : 221
e. IDEAS – 2008 : 256
Giants like MBDA, Lockheed Martin, Eurocopter and DCNS from
US/Europe were there as well as Chinese top ranking Shipbuilding,
Electronic and Information Technology firms were visible with almost
complete hall booked by them. The Turkish defense manufacturing
sectors was the major displayer of its equipment in a complete hall
with its 28 companies. Pakistani firms had also come in a big way
with static display of various types of long range Missiles(not for
sale to any other country), MBT Al-Khalid and wide range of small
arms, rockets, shoulder launched SAMs, along with several types of
weapons. Major attraction of the exhibition from Pakistani
perspective was JF- 17 Thunder aircraft a joint PAK-China
Production.
It is seldom that the highest level of defence
hierarchy attends international defence exhibitions. Usually such
duty is performed at the concerned working level on behalf of the
top leadership. IDEAS-2008 was lucky on both counts i.e. highest
number of defence delegations and highest level of delegations in
the whole series of IDEAS since year 2000. 31 High level delegations
led by 9 x Ministers /Ministers Of State, 15 x Chiefs /Deputy Chiefs
of Armed Forces
 and 7 x Defence or other Secretaries represented
their countries in IDEAS-2008, compared with 19 such delegations in
IDEAS-2006. The comparative state of all types of delegations
visiting IDEAS since year 2000 is as under:-
a. IDEAS – 2000 : 42
b. IDEAS – 2002 : 40
c. IDEAS – 2004 : 43
d. IDEAS – 2006 : 63
e. IDEAS – 2008 : 73
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Number of
Countries Represented
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 IDEAS-2008 had the honour of
hosting representatives of 59 x countries i.e. the largest ever in
the history of IDEAS. Comparative data is given below:-
a. IDEAS – 2000 : 20
b. IDEAS – 2002 : 30
c. IDEAS – 2004 : 34
d. IDEAS – 2006 : 44
e. IDEAS – 2008 : 59
 The hallmark of IDEAS-2008 was elaborate networking
mechanism between the exhibitors and defence delegations / trade
visitors incorporating the preferences of both i.e. exhibitors and
delegates. The organizers of IDEAS-2008 ensured smooth conduct of
over 2000 meetings to the entire satisfaction of all.
 MBTs Al Khalid and Al-Zarrar were the main
attractions at the Mobility Display. APC SAAD also demonstrated its
technical skills. One eight wheeler all terrain Canadian vehicle
“Argos” also performed.
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International
Rating of IDEAS-2008
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The feedback from the
exhibitors, conveying their level of satisfaction, forms the basis
of evaluation. IDEAS-2008 received over all 90.5% approval rating
from over 200 defence exhibiting companies who commented on 26
different aspects of the event. High rating of IDEAS-2008 as per UFI
Paris standards speaks volumes of successful planning, organization
and conduct of the event.
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Business Expected
by Exhibitors of IDEAS-2008
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The over-whelming
majority of exhibitors of IDEAS-2008 have conveyed to the organizers
that they have achieved 95% of their participation objectives.
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Favorable Media
Projection |
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Notwithstanding focus of the world media
on the Mumbai blasts, IDEAS-2008 received extensive and favorable
media coverage, both at the national and international level. Over
2200 articles, editorials, and news items were printed in leading
newspapers and defence industry magazines worldwide.
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