No Aero Show in Goa next year, no decision on permanent DefExpo: Parrikar
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 27 February 2016 19:52 IST
Defence ministry has decided to have next year’s Aero Show again in Bengaluru; not in Goa.
“If we decide to have it in Goa in 2019, it would be either at Dabolim or Mopa airport”, said Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today.
Similarly, he said, the decision to make Goa a permanent venue for Defence Expo would be taken only after reviewing this year’s DefExpo.
“The decision to have it at Quitol in Fatorpa village or elsewhere would also be decided later”, he said.
Both the events of India’s defence ministry are held every alternate year.
According to Parrikar, Aero Show requires a proper airport which Dabolim airport is not fit for while Mopa airport is still not ready.
The four-day DefExpo is just like the 10-day IFFI Goa hosts where no land is acquired on permanent basis but only during the event.
“Unlike IFFI, DefExpo would require the venue for around a month once in 720 days”, he observed.
The defence minister also said the ministry would shift the venue elsewhere if the locals get bad experience from this year’s event.
“Keri Communidade of Ponda has already approached us to conduct a site survey”, he said.
However, he said, the four-day event would make a turnover of over Rs 100 crore and the business has gone to local hotels, taxis, food courts of Goan cuisine and even for local specialities like cashewnuts etc.
The Land, Naval and Internal Homeland Security Systems Exhibition would attract around one lakh hi-end visitors, including defence ministers, service chiefs, defence officials and other experts.
“The venue would also be made open for the general public on the last day to watch live demos and aerobatic shows etc”, said the defence minister.
He also said this year’s DefExpo has confirmed 881 stalls till now, who would conduct business at international level.
However, he said, Pakistan is not allowed to participate in the Asia-centric expo while China is not allowed to exhibit its defence equipment as per the government policy.
Not just Aero Expo Centre should Goa from any such programmes including IFFI. Further no widening of NHs and the bridges on NHs. It is not worthwhile to spend money in Goa where people wish to live more in history though are voracious conummerists.