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Biggest Ever Edition of IMDEX Asia Underscores Strategic Global Importance of Ensuring Maritime Defence and Security in Asia-Pacific
Biggest Ever Edition of IMDEX Asia Underscores Strategic Global Importance of Ensuring Maritime Defence and Security in Asia-Pacific
24 MAY 2017
Biggest ever edition of IMDEX Asia underscores strategic global importance of ensuring maritime defence and security in Asia-Pacific
Singapore, 24 May 2017 – The key milestones achieved at IMDEX Asia 2017, Asia-Pacific’s flagship international maritime defence show, underscore the strategic global importance of ensuring maritime defence and security in this vital region.
The record number of global stakeholders who had converged at IMDEX Asia 2017 also highlight the show’s expanding role as an important neutral platform for facilitating strategic discussions around maritime defence and security. This included 73 VIP delegations from 45 countries/regions and record participation by 25 Chiefs of Navy, 10 Vice-Chiefs and Directors-General of Coast Guard, as well as 17 high-level representatives from other Navies and Coast Guards. Held in conjunction this year with the Republic of Singapore Navy’s 50th Anniversary Celebrations, 28 foreign warships from 20 navies also took part in the IMDEX Asia 2017 Warships Display.
Other key milestones included the all-time high of 630 business meetings which took place between exhibitors and VIP delegations, and the record attendance of 10,600 trade visitors from 69 countries/regions, with overseas visitors accounting for 38% of the total. In addition, 123 media personnel representing 79 media outlets were on hand to capture the key highlights and news stories from the biggest ever IMDEX Asia, with nearly three-quarters belonging to international media organisations.
Record Number of Companies Forging Partnerships and Collaborations
IMDEX Asia 2017 featured the largest ever exhibition in the show’s history, with over 230 participating companies from 29 countries who came to network, forge partnerships and foster collaborations. This included increased participation by both returning and new exhibitors like Austal, Baglietto Navy, CAE, DCNS, Ferretti Security & Defence, Israel Aerospace Industries, Lockheed Martin, ST Engineering and ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.
This year’s exhibitors spanned a wide spectrum across sectors from shipbuilding, armaments and propulsion systems to maritime cybersecurity, imaging and simulation. As an example, the China Pavilion which made its debut this year, was represented by many of the country’s leading maritime unmanned systems companies from Zhuhai Prefecture who showcased their innovations for the first time at IMDEX Asia.
About this year’s record-setting exhibition, Mr. Guy Stitt, President, AMI International, and: “We have been returning to IMDEX Asia since the very inception of the show because it is unique as the only gathering of navy leaders of its kind in the region, while the Warships Display enables people to see the real world applications of systems and equipment by real operating navies. We are happy because this year’s show offered a wide selection of exhibitors ranging from large corporations to small businesses, showcasing new technologies and innovations that cover the full gamut of naval and maritime systems, and which are all very crucial for us to better understand what the future is going to look like.”
Commenting on the increased focus on technology and innovation this year, Mr Chew Men Leong, Deputy President & President (Defence Business), ST Marine, said: “This year’s IMDEX Asia has seen an increase in the crowds as well as visits by high level delegations, and it is very encouraging to see many taking a greater interest in future naval solutions, and what we have to offer. IMDEX Asia is a must-attend show where many of the Navies from Asia-Pacific and around the world come to look at the latest technologies and capabilities, and it’s a good opportunity for us to showcase our offerings, while also establishing and maintaining key touch-points for the future.”
Facilitating Key Discussions around Maritime Defence and Security
To further facilitate discussions and conversations around maritime defence in Asia-Pacific, IMDEX Asia hosted the International Maritime Security Conference (IMSC 2017) and International Naval Engineering Conference @ IMDEX Asia (INEC@IMDEX Asia 2017). IMSC 2017 brought together Chiefs of Navy and Directors-General of Coast Guard from around the world for high-level discussions on “Safe and Secure Seas: A Vision for a Maritime Region”. The conference focused on the development of a cooperative security approach to create critical capabilities that will enhance the safety of the complex maritime landscape.
INEC@IMDEX Asia 2017 generated high level exchanges and discussions around the theme of “Robust Designs, Flexible Capabilities”, that addressed key challenges faced by the naval engineering industry. The challenges posed by cyber-threats were addressed at the inaugural Commercial Maritime Cyber Security Forum. With recent global events having increased awareness around cybersecurity, the forum saw maritime industry experts outlining key cybersecurity challenges and solutions before a packed audience.
“2017 has been a milestone year for IMDEX Asia with record participation by Chiefs of Navy, ViceChiefs and Directors-General of Coast Guard, representatives from navies and Coast Guards, as well as foreign warships. Together with record VIP delegations and trade visitor attendance, and participating companies, these milestones underscore the expanding role of IMDEX Asia as a truly global platform for facilitating strategic discussions around maritime defence and security,” said Mr Leck Chet Lam, Managing Director, Experia Events. “Recognising the strategic importance of these discussions, future editions of IMDEX Asia will also evolve to meet the growing needs of our global stakeholders, with a stronger focus on leveraging emerging technologies and innovations to address pressing maritime defence and security issues.”
Organised by Experia Events, IMDEX Asia is supported by the Republic of Singapore Navy, the Defence Science and Technology Agency, the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) Information Sharing Centre, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), and Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau. The 12th edition of IMDEX Asia will be held from 14 to 16 May 2019.
