The Def Expo India exhibition was conceptualised in the year 1998 by the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, Government of India in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry with an objective to promote defence exports from India and at the same time exhibit the capabilities of Indian Defence R&D and production. The Def Expo India exhibition which began in 1999 with 197 exhibitors has grown to one of the most internationally recognised defence exhibitions in the world, with a total of 475 exhibitors, of which foreign exhibitors are 273 and Indian exhibitors are 202.

Dedicated to global land and naval systems business activity – from suppliers to manufacturers, technology providers to services - it allows the international defence industry to promote and showcase their products and services to an international professional business audience.

First time in Defexpo India’08 both Telecom and IT companies will be showcasing their products and services.

Shri Pradeep Kumar, Secretary, Defence Production (Ministry of Defence) Government of India said “47 Official Delegations would be visiting Defexpo India 2008 including 6 Ministerial delegations from Afghanistan, Belarus, Ghana, Mozambique, Namibia and Nigeria”.

He added, “The participation of companies, both from India and abroad is very good and there are as many as 30 country pavilions”.

Lt. Gen (Retd) S.S. Mehta, D.G. CII said, “The 4th Indian Defence Industry Summit on Indian Defence Industry Policy & Procurement Processes will be held on 16th February, 2008. A major highlight of DEFEXPO India 2008 this year is the inclusion of 16 seminars coinciding with DEFEXPO INDIA 2008, to enable exhibitors to make technology / product specific presentations to target audience from Indian Defence establishments, R&D Institutions, visiting official delegations, Defence Public Sector Undertakings, Ordnance Factories and Indian Industry”.

Additionally, a new feature this year is that CII will be organising a Def Expo India - Golf Tournament on Sunday, 17 February 2008 at the Army Golf Course New Delhi.

International participation in Defexpo India ’08 is from over 30 countries, displaying an array of technology and new products. Countries participating include Australia, Belarus, Australia, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Norway, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, The Netherlands, UAE, UK, Ukraine and the U.S.A.