Chennai: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has expressed confidence that the 13th edition of Aero India, considered Asia’s largest aerospace exhibition, to be held in Bengaluru, Karnataka, from 3-5 February will be a ‘grand success’, with all the necessary Covid-19 precautions in place.
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, who attended the Apex Committee meeting for Aero India 21, chaired by Singh, said the government was spending Rs 30 crore in developing road infrastructure for the show this year in addition to meeting other direct and indirect expenses.
“There was a meeting here between the Karnataka government and the Defence Ministry, during which it was decided to make Aero India a grand success,” Rajnath said.
After attending the Apex Committee meeting, the Defence Minister said he has concluded after a review that all the preparations needed to make the air show successful are being done by the Karnataka government, Defence Ministry, especially the Air Force.
An official release, quoting the Minister at the meeting, said the order of 83 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) to HAL, valued at over Rs 48000 crore, would prove a boon to Karnataka in general and Bengaluru in particular in terms of generation of more than 50,000 jobs with extensive participation of MSMEs and private sector.
Since its inception in 1996, Bengaluru has been hosting the event. This three day event is being dubbed as the ‘worlds first hybrid exhibition’, wherein the Business element of the event will be both physical as well as virtual.
Aero India-21 is now being held simultaneously as a physical and virtual exhibition with stalls being provided in both the physical and virtual realms will result in greater engagement, the release said.