More industry players taking part in Lima 2017
Showcase will feature half of the world’s Top 100 maritime and aerospace suppliers
LANGKAWI: A total of 505 companies from 36 countries will be taking part in the five-day Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (Lima) 2017 here starting from March 21.
Defence MinisterDatuk SeriHishammuddin Hussein said the showcase would feature half of the world’s top 100 maritime and aerospace suppliers.
He said 106 aircraft and 42 ships from around the world would also be on display for the over 40,000 visitors expected during the event.
“This is a true testament of Lima’s ability to generate not just business but a wider public interest in these dynamic industries,” he said after a site inspection at Resorts World Langkawi here yesterday.
Due to the increasing appeal of the Asean market, Hishammuddin said there was a 40% increase in space participation compared with Lima 2015.
“We expanded an additional 6,000 sq m for the maritime segment in Resorts World Langkawi. The exhibition gross space currently covers over 119,209 sq m, which is a significant increase.
“Even with the additional floor space, we have managed to sell 95% of it so far,” he said.
Russia will be the largest exhibitor followed by the United States, Germany and Britain.
First-time exhibitors include Austria, Brazil, Estonia, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Poland, Thailand and Ukraine.
Another first for Lima 2017 will be an array of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and Autonomous Underwater Vehicle ( AUV) on display.
These include the United States’ Air Force MQ-1 Predator and Navy MQ-8 Fire Scout as well as Ukraine’s TBN UAV.
Hishammuddin said despite a challenging year for the national economy and the complex geopolitical situation worldwide, most industry member companies remained
We are confident that participation from the commercial community will be more due to the involvement of the civil aviation and the international maritime sectors. Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai
strong about business prospects in Lima and Malaysia as a whole.
Besides the Defence Ministry, the navy and the air force, others involved in the event are the Transport Ministry, the Department of Civil Aviation, the International Trade and Industry Ministry through Matrade, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority, the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology and the police.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, who was also present, said there were more participants in this year’s edition.
He said his ministry would be involved in the Asean Aviation Summit 2017 and the International Maritime Conference, which will be held during Lima.
“We are confident that participation from the commercial community will be more due to the involvement of the civil aviation and the international maritime sectors.
“Those from the private sector will also be drawn to the event.
“I can see that the organiser has carried out sound preparations for the event,” Liow added.