Wednesday, August 10 2005 16:25 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: India is fielding a strong participation as it readies to roll out an impressive inaugural national outing at the Dubai air show in the United Arab Emirates this November, organisers said today (Aug 10, 2005).

Seventeen Indian firms the largest contingent from Asia Pacific region have confirmed participation, Clive Richardson, CEO, Fairs and Exhibitions (F&E), the organiser of the Dubai air show, told a news conference in Bangalore.

C G Krishnadas Nair, President of the Society of Indian Aerospace Technologies and Industries, which is supporting the Indian pavilion there, said the number is expected to exceed 20.

The Indian pavilion will feature sector specialists such as Tata Advanced Materials, Titan Industries, Amphenol Interconnect, Avdel, Avon Oxygen, Cades Digitach, Glob Hi-Fabs, Mayurakshi Equipments, Mak Controls & Systems, Polynex, Standard Castings, Saras Technologies, and Systems Controls, officials said.

It would also host Antrix Corporation Limited, which is Indian Space Research Organisation's commercial arm, Aeronautical Research and Development Establishment and National Aerospace Laboratories, it was stated.

On why India's largest player, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is not among the participants, Nair said HAL has not yet decided; a state-run organisation like HAL needs Government clearance for taking part in any overseas exhibition, he noted to a question.

Richardson and Nair said India is formally and officially taking part in the Dubai air show, held once in two years, whose first edition was held in 1989, for the first time.

Nair said Indian players are taking part as a team and the country's combined aeronautical strength will be on display.

India to be projected as a brand at the air-show

The effort is to project India as a brand at the air show to be held from November 20 to 24, he said.

Nair said the Indian players would seek to identify business opportunities and partnerships.

Richardson said the last edition in 2003 attracted some 500 companies from 36 countries; this year's it's expected to be around 700 companies from 39 countries. The last air show generated business to the tune of US$ seven billion, according to him.

The Dubai air show has grown to be the world's third largest after the two European ones, he said.

He said companies are taking part in the Dubai air show purely for business reasons.

According to him, the participants in this year's edition would include 150 indigenous exhibitors (those in the Middle-East region). Since manufacturing is 'limited' in this region, it's considered as a good market for the sector, he added.

The ratio of defence participants and those from the civilian sector was 80:20 in the first edition; it has now become 40:60 following huge growth in the latter.