Exhibitors and delegates at the upcoming International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (IMDEX Asia) will have the opportunity to meet more key players from international navies, coast guards and maritime agencies as the biennial exhibition is set to host the highest number ever of Navy Chiefs from all over the world. Defense Update is covering the event on site, reporting news and features on Asia-Pacific maritime topics through the week.

IMDEX Asia, returning for its ninth edition from 14 to 16 May 2013 at the Changi Exhibition Centre (CEC) in Singapore, is recognised as Asia-Pacific’s foremost maritime defence show. Some 30 Navy Chiefs, Coast Guard Directors-General and heads of maritime agencies in the Asia Pacific region and beyond will be taking part in the event. IMDEX Asia 2013 will also showcase 15 warships from 9 navies from around the world with the participation
of 15 warships from nine countries including Australia, France, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, the United States and Singapore. These vessels will include, for the first time, the new Littoral Combat Ship (LCS-1) USS Freedom, which has just arrived in Singapore.

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) will also host the Maritime Information Sharing Exercise (MARISX) and the Western Pacific Multilateral Sea Exercise (WMSX), bringing together navies and maritime agencies to foster international co-operation.

Debuting at this year’s IMDEX Asia will be Technology Seminars, which provide a platform for exhibitors to present their latest and most innovative technologies to potential buyers from the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. The exhibition will also highlight an array of rigid-inflatable boats (RIBs) and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in the Static Display.

Some 180 exhibitors have confirmed their participation at IMDEX Asia 2013, with 40% of them joining the show for the first time this year. These new exhibitors include notable companies such as Devor Technologies, Fincantieri, Lürssen Marine Technology, Scania, Schiebel, Westport Shipyard, Viking Air and Liquid Robotics, and visitors can expect to view their latest products and innovations at the show. As a testament to the value IMDEX Asia brings to them, returning exhibitors include major players in the industry such as Austal, DCNS,Lockheed Martin, MBDA, ST Engineering and ThyssenKrupp Marine. Among the Israeli exhibitors are IAI, RAFAEL, Elbit Systems, and Israel Shipyards.

Jimmy Lau, Managing Director of Experia Events, said: “The increasing number of Navy Chiefs and VIPs attending IMDEX Asia is a testament to the growing stature of the event globally. With the Asia-Pacific region now the world’s second largest naval market, IMDEX Asia is more than ever a must-attend show in the international naval and maritime defence calendar. With new highlights and features in place for this year, we are confident that IMDEX Asia 2013 is more than ready to deliver an even greater experience for both exhibitors and visitors.”

Held in conjunction with IMDEX Asia will be high-level conferences such as the prestigious invitation-only International Maritime Security Conference (IMSC) and the first ever Asian edition of the International Naval Engineering Conference (INEC@IMDEX Asia). IMSC will gather Navy Chiefs, Directors-General of Coast Guard and heads of maritime agencies from around the world to discuss evolving challenges to naval security. “Conferences such as IMSC not only strengthen IMDEX Asia’s position as a mustattend event in the international maritime industry calendar, they also play an important role in cementing Singapore’s status as an important maritime hub” Lau added.