Proper screening of those coming for DefExpo 2020

Delegates arriving in India for the 11th edition of the biennial DefExpo 2020 in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow from countries that reported coronavirus cases will be made to undergo proper screening, Union Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar said on Friday.

"We have made necessary arrangements. We will follow standard operating procedure. Screening will be done as part of the national efforts," Kumar said while explaining the modalities about the mega defence exhibition scheduled between February 5 and February 9.

Earlier in the day, the Indian Army swiftly set up a coronavirus quarantine facility at Haryana's Manesar for around 300 students arriving from China's Wuhan.

The Defence Secretary also said that the number of companies registered for participating in DefExpo 2020 has reached 1,000 compared with 702 during DefExpo 2018 in Chennai. "Thus, it has become by far the biggest ever DefExpo to be held in India," Kumar said.

The number of participating foreign companies has increased to 165 from the previous 160.

The exhibition space booked by exhibitors for DefExpo 2020 has gone up by 60 per cent to over 53,000 square metres, compared with around 26,774 metres during the last edition.

Defence Ministers and service chiefs of 40 countries have confirmed participation in this year's DefExpo. "A substantial number of MoUs are expected to be inked during the Expo, resulting in forging of new business collaborations," he said.

The officer said that there would be live demonstration of services, Defence PSUs and industry showing land, naval, air and internal security systems in action. Live demonstration will happen at two locations, one at the exhibition venue and another at the Gomti River Front.

"A total of 19 business seminars will be organised by both international and Indian industry chambers," Kumar said.

Further, the central government has set up a Defence Industrial Corridor in Uttar Pradesh with identification of six nodes.

A Defence Planning Committee has also been formed. In this regard, the government of UP plans to build a defence manufacturing corridor along with the proposed Bundelkhand Expressway to help make India self-reliant in defence production. The exhibition will help the UP government in a big way.

( With inputs from IANS )