BENGALURU /INDIA/, February 6. /TASS/. Official delegations from 43 states and 530 companies took part in the Aero India 2021 exhibition, which ended in Bengaluru, southern India, on Friday.
"Aero India 2021 has been an unprecedented success. I am told that high-level delegations from 43 countries and exhibitors from 530 companies have participated in the event. Many more across the world got associated with the event virtually, which is the world’s first mega event of this kind to be held in the hybrid format," President of India Ram Nath Kovind said in his speech at the valedictory ceremony of Aero India-21.
According to organizers, Aero India 2021 became the first major event of its kind to be held in the hybrid format. At the event’s web portal, internet users could visit all pavilions, watch demonstration flights and other events.
In turn, India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the event has been ‘immensely successful.’
"More than 16,000 people attended Aero India physically and more than 450,000 virtually," he said.
In total, 121 memorandums of understanding, 19 agreements on technology transfer and 18 - on manufacturing new products were signed during the exhibition.
According to the minister, the country’s government plans to increase the production of military equipment by national companies of India from the current $11 billion to $25 billion in 2025. He added that the government of India plans to invest about $130 billion in modernizing its weapons and military equipment within the next 7-8 years.
Russia’s participation
Russia became an active participant of the exhibition, with eight memoranda on mutual understanding signed between Russian and Indian companies as part of the event.
The Russian side was represented by Rosoboronexport, United Aircraft Corporation, Morinformsystem-Agat, Granit-Electron, Electropribor and other companies, the Indian side - by Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), BEL Optronic Devices Ltd and others.
More than 200 samples of Russian weapons and military equipment were showcased at Aero India 2021.