Azerbaijani delegation highlights defence industry partnerships at exhibition in Pakistan PHOTO

The 12th International Defense Exhibition and Seminar IDEAS-2024 was opened in Karachi, Pakistan on November 19. 

A delegation from Azerbaijan, led by Deputy Minister of Defense Industry Mehman Bakhishov, is participating in the event, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense Industry told Caliber.Az.

During the exhibition, Bakhishov held meetings with Ihsan Kaya, Deputy Chairman of the Turkish Defense Industry Committee; General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of Pakistan; Lieutenant General Yusuf Jamal, Director General of Pakistan's Strategic Plans Division; and representatives from private companies.

During these meetings, the prospects for developing cooperation and expanding ties among the military-defence complexes of Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Pakistan were discussed.

Turkish defence industry companies are also presenting their products at the IDEAS 2024, which will run until November 22.

According to the Turkish Defence Industry Agency (SSB), official delegations and defence manufacturers from around the world have gathered for the four-day event.

Twenty-one Turkish companies are taking part in this year's event, including ASELSAN, ASFAT, Girsan, Gürbüz Trade, HAVELSAN, İŞBİR, Karel, Kar Metal, MİLKAB, MİLSOFT, MKE, Pals Elektronik, DLG TACTICAL, ROKETSAN, Sarsılmaz, SDT, IDEF, STM, TİSAŞ, TUSAŞ, and ULAK.

The exhibition will feature a range of products from Türkiye's defence sector, including unmanned ground and aerial vehicles, armoured personnel carriers, weapons, naval and electronic systems, ammunition, simulators, and logistics support equipment.

The event was inaugurated by Federal Minister for Defence and Defence Production Khawaja Muhammad Asif.

A significant event on the regional calendar, IDEAS 2024 is organised biennially by Pakistan's Defence Export Promotion Organisation (DEPO). According to a statement from DEPO, the exhibition has attracted over 350 high-level delegations from 55 nations, alongside numerous trade visitors.

Since its inception in 2000, IDEAS has established itself as a leading international platform for defence manufacturers, entrepreneurs, research and development experts, financial professionals, and policymakers. The event fosters collaboration, knowledge exchange, and opportunities for ventures in the defence sector, acting as a nexus for the global defence community to explore business synergies and cooperative efforts.

By Naila Huseynova