DSA 2012 Shows Malaysia Can Host World Class Events - M'sian Defence Minister

KUALA LUMPUR, April 5 (Bernama) - Defence Services Asia Exhibition and Conference 2012 (DSA 2012) will boost Malaysia's image globally and shows its capability to host world class events. Defence Minister of Malaysia Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said DSA 2012 need strong support from local and international media via publicity on various joint ventures and agreements signed. DSA 2012 will held for four days at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) here starting April 16. Zahid said it will showcase the latest and best defence and security technology in the region including weapons and combat vehicle monitoring system for the army, air force and navy. "It will promote security technology for enforcement agencies such as police, customs and immigration," he said at a luncheon with chief editors and senior editors of the local media here Wednesday. There will be 25 pavilions representing Australia, Austria, Bosnia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, South Korea, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, Ukraine, United States and Malaysia. Malaysia's pavilion will feature companies such as Amdac, Boustead, DRB Hicom Defence Technologies, Nadi Defence, Sapura, SME Ordnance, Westar LDV and Zetro. He said DSA 2012 is expected to generate interest and attract defence and security industry players and become a platform for the best local and international defence companies. It is expected to attract about 25,000 trade visitors worldwide, including 280 senior defence officers and defence ministers from Asia Pacific, create networking opportunities and witness signing of several memorandums of understanding (MoU) between international and local defence companies. "Through DSA 2010, the Malaysian government signed contracts, MOUs and letters of interest (LOI) worth US$3.68 billion (RM11.28 billion)." Zahid said it also generated foreign exchange estimated over RM180 million despite the volcanic ash that affected the number of foreign participants. "We predict that DSA 2012 will generate foreign exchange worth RM200 million as this year's event is bigger," he added. (US$1 = RM3.06) -- BERNAMA