Article Posted on : - Feb 12, 2009

The Sarang helicopter team of IAF making a colourful entry in the inaugural function the Aero India 2009, at Yelahanka, in Bengaluru on February 11, 2009. Defence Minister AK Antony and the Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal FH Major are seen in the foreground. PIB photo

BANGALORE (BNS): After the successful inauguration of the seventh edition of the Aero India 2009 show here on Wednesday, Indian Defence Minister A K Antony said that the Garden City will host the eighth Aero India show in 2011 from February 9-13.

Speaking on the occasion, Antony said that the defence industry was now open to 100 per cent Indian private sector participation with a foreign investment of up to 26 per cent. “The government's emphasis is on public-private partnership in the defence industry,” Antony said.

The defence minister reiterated that despite the economic recession, there was no question of scaling down the defence expenditure, or compromising with the ongoing acquisition programmes.

The Aero India show, which is held biennially at Bangalore, has attracted 592 exhibitors from 25 countries this year. Out of these 303 are from abroad and 289 from the country. For the first time, this year China has sent a delegation to the show. The other countries taking part include UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Israel, Malaysia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Netherlands and Ukraine.