DEFENCE shows like the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (Lima) and Defence Services Asia Exhibition and Conference 2020 (DSA 2020) will help position Malaysia as the defence hub of the Asean region, said Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu.

The biannual Lima, which started on Tuesday and ends tomorrow, is in its 15th year. DSA 2020, which will be held in April next year in Kuala Lumpur, will see its 17th installment.

Both events are well-known for showcasing defence and military assets from suppliers all over the world. They are also attended by government and military delegates, and huge contracts are signed during these events.

Lima this year attracted 42,030 trade visitors from 63 countries in the first three days.

During the exhibition, RM4 billion worth of memoranda of understanding and contracts were inked. Business-to-business deals made up RM500 million, the minister said.

Mohamad added that Malaysia has been cooperating with fellow Asean countries in defence strategies and diplomacy, as well as the arms industry.

“The Asean population is some 600 million. The armies of the 10 Asean nations are two million. Some 30 to 40 years ago, we were only importers of military and defence assets made by foreign companies mainly in Europe.

“But now we are building cooperation within Asean so that we can play a role in defence strategies and diplomacy, as well as the defence industry. We want to be the hub in this region.

“Through events like Lima and DSA 2020, we can show we can all work together, even with big players from the US, Russia, China, and Turkey,” he told reporters at the Lima closing press conference at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre in Langkawi.

Malaysia, which has companies capable of manufacturing aircraft parts, maintaining military assets, and building ships, is keen on growing its arms industry.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said these industries could help spur the economy.

His home state Kedah has just announced the setting up of an aeropolis and aerospace hub, which would see Malaysian firms collaborate with foreign companies to assemble and manufacture aircraft and transfer technology.

At Lima this year, 206 exhibitors are from Malaysia, compared to 200 foreign exhibitors. When Lima first started in 1991, there was only one Malaysian exhibitor.

Mohamad said hopefully Malaysia would have expanded its aerospace industry further by Lima 2021.

Mohamad said Lima was also good for boosting the economy.

Minister Anthony Loke, whose Transport Ministry is the co-organiser of the event, said Lima also opened many opportunities to the private sector, which is the driver of the economy. – March 29, 2019.