By Nur Aimi Mohamed Ghazemy<\/p>\n\n\n\n
KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 (NNN-Bernama) — The Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2022 and National Security (NATSEC) Asia 2022 exhibitions concluded Thursday with positive remarks and feedback from participants despite the COVID-19 restrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The four-day event, held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) here, was the first and largest international event held in the country following the COVID-19 pandemic. It also saw the participation of 54 countries and more than 1,000 defence and security-related companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The exhibitions, which saw the signing of contracts, Memorandums of Understanding, Letters of Agreement, Letters of Intent and joint-venture agreements worth more than RM6 billion (US$1.43 billion), also managed to attract a total of 33,147 visitors, in addition to 350 VIP and VVIP delegates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking to Bernama, the United States head of pavilion Peter McKenna felt that the exhibitions had set the benchmark for the trade show industry during the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDespite the difficulties for the show\u2019s organisers to make arrangements for international exhibitors to attend this year\u2019s DSA, most companies which attended, showed a visible demonstration of their support for Malaysia,\u201d said McKenna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Apart from the normal security screening at the venue\u2019s main entrance, where bags and belongings are scanned, a check by Bernama found that the event, which was last held in 2018, also required participants and visitors to provide their COVID-19 swab test results before hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every participant was also asked to register and provide their vaccination certificates prior to the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The organisers, the Defence Ministry and Home Ministry, had also set a limit on the maximum number of visitors and exhibitors for each exhibition hall to ensure proper physical distancing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year\u2019s DSA 2022 and NATSEC 2022 were also held with more pronounced standard operating procedures (SOP), with every hall and venue for the delegations and dignitaries equipped with state-of-the-art cameras to ensure compliance with the maximum capacity for each hall was observed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Applauding the measures taken by the organisers, Austria\u2019s head of Pavilion Aizad Ali noted that while there was a smaller crowd this time compared to DSA 2018, there was more visibility of the products that the participating exhibitors were promoting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey (exhibitors) were more focused on promotion, marketing and product delivery. I was not too crowded, the VIPs didn\u2019t need to rush through,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Echoing the sentiment, Germany\u2019s head of pavilion Peter Eikmeier said the exhibitions fulfilled expectations despite the smaller turnout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was time to meet the people again after COVID… to get in touch with each other. This was the main target, and it’s all fulfilled and exciting… and it\u2019s a great show, so far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are restarting relations between Malaysia and Germany. It was a good approach,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, Deputy Home Minister Jonathan Yasin, in his speech at the closing ceremony Thursday, said the four-day exhibitions were a major endeavour that involved the utmost determination, planning, coordination and cooperation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOrganising one of the top defence and security-related events in the world is no easy feat in itself, let alone during a pandemic. In fact, some might say it was even near impossible,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The next edition of the DSA and NATSEC exhibitions is scheduled to be held at the same venue from May 6-9, 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
— NNN-BERNAMA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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