Berlin airshow opens with India as partner country

Berlin: The five-day long International Aerospace Exhibition and Conferences- ILA 2008 Berlin Air Show witnessed a grand opening at the Berlin-Schonefeld Airport today with the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony representing ‘India as a Partner Country’, for the first time, in the 99-year old history of this event. The German Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel declared the Air Show open in the presence of Shri Antony.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Shri Antony, said the Berlin Air Show provides an excellent opportunity to explore innovative cooperation options and arrangements, particularly in the areas of aviation, aerospace and defence. He called upon the international aviation and defence majors to take advantage of the country’s expanding market by proactively seeking out industry partners in India. ‘The commitments made by some partners to establish production facilities in India or transfer of technology, point towards the opportunities that lie in horizon’, he said.
Giving a brief overview of India’s successful ‘development model’, Shri Antony said, India’s presence at the Berlin Air Show ‘signifies the progress the country has made in the six decades since Independence.
A large number of Indian companies – both public and private and Defence Organisations have showcased their defence related capabilities and products at the Show. The composite India Pavilion covering 1200 sq meters has witnessed the participation of five Defence Public Sector Undertakings namely Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI); the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and five private defence industries – TATA, L&T, CADES, ACCORD, Saraswati Dynamics. The SARANG team of Indian Air Force enthralled the large number of visitors with a scintillating display of aerobatics with their helicopters. The Air Warriors Symphony Orchestra also performed at Berlin Air Show.
27/05/08 Sitanshu Kar/Press Information Bureau

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Categories: Berlin air show 2008