International Defense Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) –organized by Defense Export Promotion Organization (DEPO) under the auspices of Ministry of Defense Production, Government of Pakistan and being managed by Badar Expo Solutions –is a biennially held defense exhibition that brings together international manufacturers and suppliers of products and services to explore the opportunities for cooperation in the field of defense production through joint ventures, outsourcing, and collaboration.

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IDEAS exhibits a wide variety of defense systems, ranging from equipment used in the third world countries to the most sophisticated technology from the West and showcases technology of tomorrow and innovations in defense with several thousand weapon systems and equipment items on display.
The event provides an ideal interactive platform for defense forces to access the best products and technologies available to cater for their respective defense requirements. It is the most important marketplace for presenting innovative ideas, facilitating meetings and networking sessions with numerous high profile delegates, policymakers, diplomats and defense procurement experts, all on one platform.
IDEAS embodies a host of activities comprising display of different defense products and equipment, an impressive inauguration ceremony, conduct of international seminar, various sideline conferences and B2B networking of high-level delegates with exhibitors and Original Equipment Manufacturers. 

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IDEAS has grown exponentially since its inception in its outreach, participation and international attendance to an unmatchable level. With 65 exhibitors in its premier edition in the year 2000, IDEAS has witnessed an eight times increase with 524 exhibitors from 45 countries and a three times increase in the space booked at 12,600 sqm in 2018.  Besides trade visitors, more than 262 high-level delegations from 51 countries visited the exhibition. Countries such as China, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Jordon, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Turkey, the UAE, Ukraine, the U.S. and the host, Pakistan established their exclusive country pavilions at the Expo Centre.
The seminar at IDEAS serves as the widely attended interactive platform in the Asian region that presents a distinctive international outlook for the defense industry.
To boost Pakistan’s exports in the defence sector, some of the major indigenously developed products showcased during IDEAS included Main Battle Tank Al-Khalid, fighter aircraft JF-17 Thunder, jet trainer aircraft K-8 and a variety of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, etc. The platform offered a unique opportunity to the international delegates and visitors in acquiring an insight into the entire defense manufacturing and training capabilities of Pakistan, exhibited under a single umbrella. It may be pertinent to highlight that Pakistan has a large defense manufacturing, training and support infrastructure in place, which not only meets the needs of Pakistan Armed Forces, but also has the capacity to fulfill the demands of other countries with exceptionally high-quality products on mutually acceptable terms.
The latest edition IDEAS-2022, is one of the major attractions in the upcoming events in Asia. The event will commence on November 15, 2022 at Karachi Expo Centre.
More than 348 delegates, including VIPs from more than 107 countries have been invited by the Government of Pakistan. Three more halls have been added in order to accommodate the growing number of the exhibitors and visitors, hence, there are nine halls in total. It has a larger outer display area for the disposition. A high-profile inauguration ceremony has been planned along with an international seminar. Four luncheons for delegates and VIPs will also be hosted. Special meeting rooms will be allotted for the exhibitors and defense procurement decision-makers to conduct sessions for networking with each other. The 11^th edition will also include dinner and cultural show to display the rich culture of Pakistan. Participation of leading chambers of commerce from all over Pakistan with a view of engagement with the private sector will facilitate public-private partnership in defense promotion and export. Besides these activities, Karachi Air Show will also take place to present a scintillating aerial display with locally made state-of-the-art military hardware.

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IDEAS-2022 has been planned to provide a rich intellectual forum through the international seminar. The seminar’s theme of the year is, Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Defense Market: A Paradigm Shift in Military Strategy and National Security. Various international speakers from defense sectors have been invited to come and share their knowledge. The participants will be briefed on how to embark on an association between Pakistan’s AI technologies in defense market and their counterparts around the world, hence allowing the exchange of technological information, volume of research and training aspects of defense experts and academia for high-quality and more valuable defense products and knowledge.
Besides chief participants from Turkey, China and various parts of Europe, we have new additions of companies from Romania and Austria. This shows the growing expansion of the occasion and its importance in the region. Countries across the globe will be collaborating on their technology, knowledge and equipment related to defense, thus, enhancing the importance of this event for the global market.
IDEAS has helped Pakistan to procure a stable position in defense production internationally. It has emerged as a platform for the preeminent manufacturers of defense products in the global market with its demand growing day by day. Pakistan, with its usual largest pavilion in the exhibition, would be showcasing a large array of domestically produced and manufactured defense equipment and weapons. This includes all types of products, from simple to complex designs such as Main Battle Tanks (Al-Khalid and Al-Zarrar), aircraft (JF-17, K-8, Super Mushshak, UAVs), Maritime Patrol Vessels (MPV), Fleet Tanker, Fast Attack Missile Craft (FAMC), different variants of Armoured Personnel Carrier (APCs), air-launched munitions, small arms and high-grade explosives, which are already well-recognized in the international defense market for being technologically competitive and yet cost effective.
IDEAS always remains at the center stage for the international and local media to give extensive coverage to the event and publish special reports and interviews of the participating delegates and exhibitors. In that lieu, for the first time, Hilal Publications will be a part of the event as its media partner.
As a global rendezvous of innovation and excellence in air, land and maritime defense technologies, the 11^th edition of IDEAS Pakistan will once again bring together all the industry players across the world to showcase the latest technological innovations. 

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The author is a Media Analyst for the Badar Expo Solutions.
E-mail: [email protected]