New Delhi: India-Africa Defence Conclave will be held in Lucknow on February 6, Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar said on Friday.
On February 7, Several Memorandum of Understandings and Transfer of Technology agreements will be signed on the sidelines of Defence Expo 2020.
“India-Africa Defence Conclave will be held on February 7. Fourteen Defence Ministers from the African countries have confirmed participation in this event till now and the number is likely to go up,” Mr Kumar said.
He also said that India share very good relationship with African countries and Defence Conclave will further strengthen the bonding.
“Defence Ministers of nearly 40 countries have confirmed their participation for the DefExpo20, including Czech Republic, Mexico, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, and others,” the secretary added.
He also pointed that the number of companies registered for participating in DefExpo 2020 has increased to 1,000 from 702 in the last edition held in Chennai.
Defence Secretary said that there was huge 96 per cent jump in the booked exhibition space by exhibitors in DefExpo 2020 to over 53,000 square meters, compared to around 27,000 during the last edition.
Amidst deadly Coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan of Central China, the delegates who are coming from China, Hong Kong and Vietnam for Defence Expo in Lucknow will have to undergo necessary screening.
“We are aware about coronavirus. We will have made necessary arrangements. We will follow the standard operating process. Screening will be done as part of the national efforts,” Mr Defence Kumar said while explaining the modalities about the DefExpo 2020 scheduled between February 5 and February 9.
Earlier in the day, Indian Army had set up coronavirus quarantine facility at Haryana’s Manesar for around 300 students arriving from China’s Wuhan.
Responding to an emergency requirement to create and manage a facility for quarantine of around 300 Indian students coming from Wuhan, the Indian Army has swiftly created a quarantine facility near Manesar.
The number of participating foreign companies has also increased to 165 from the previous figure of 160.
“A total 19 Business seminars are being organised by both international and Indian Industry chambers,” Mr Kumar said.
