GROWTH POTENTIAL: It can create jobs and spin-off opportunities, says Hishammuddin
KUALA LUMPUR: THE Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2014 Exhibition and Conference, which concluded yesterday, has grown into one of the top five defence shows in the world, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.
He said much emphasis had been placed on DSA as it augured well for the growth of the local defence industry, which provided spin-off opportunities and jobs.
“I hope this trend will continue into the future, especially among local defence industry players. The industry is indeed one with strong growth potential that the government seeks to nurture.
“We must showcase our potential to the world and explore limitless possibilities,” he said at the closing of the four-day event at the Putra World Trade Centre here yesterday.
Hishammuddin, who is also acting transport minister, said for the first three days, more than 30,000 trade visitors from more than 70 countries visited the 1,000 exhibition booths and 28 country group pavilions from 60 nations.
He said 172 VVIPs from 45 countries paid courtesy calls and attended conferences, roundtable talks and workshops which provided information on trade, defence, security and other matters related to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, explosives, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
“Together with the Cyber Security Forum and Putrajaya Forum, these events had raised and answered questions on contemporary issues and emerging trends.
“Pertinent issues were discussed in the meetings, especially with regards to greater bilateral cooperation and regional commitment. The foreign leaders had not only extended their deepest sympathies to the families of the missing MH370, but also commended Malaysia on its handling of the crisis, especially in coordinating the unprecedented and complex multinational search operation.”
Hishammuddin said it was a testing time, with last month being one of the darkest chapters following the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 on March 8.
“But the huge gathering of the defence and security community has reinforced the belief that keeping good relationships is of paramount importance to our policy. Their presence has boosted our resolve to get to the bottom of this tragic incident.
“I believe with the help of our friends, we will persevere in our search efforts and we are optimistic about finding answers we are looking for,” he said, adding that the unprecedented search operation, in terms of scale, commitment and complexities, had also bound them closer.
Hishammuddin commended leaders for their joint initiative in establishing the first-ever Asean Hall at DSA which fostered multi-lateral rapport.
On DSA 2014, he said 25 contracts, memoranda of understanding and letters of acceptance and intent were clinched, to the tune of RM1.861 billion.
He said studies had shown that Asia’s defence spending rose from US$203 billion (RM657 billion) in 2002 to US$356 billion in 2012, accounting for a 75 per cent increase compared with a 12 per cent increase in Europe for the same period.
“It is clear that no one country, no matter how well-resourced, can solve these problems on its own because such threats cut across national borders.
“We live in an age of uncertainties brought about by multi-fold shifts in technology and societal behaviours.
“These rapidly evolving traditional and non-traditional threats outpace our abilities to find suitable solutions.”
He said the biggest threats were transnational in nature, from religious extremism to cyberterrorism.
“Knowledge, information, news, truths, half-truths, outright lies that are digitised, networked and automated, as well as pervasive and instantaneous, have become important in shaping our political, economic, cultural and security concerns.”
He said with a 40 per cent shift in the global economic power towards the east by 2020, Asia was more vulnerable to security threats, such as maritime terrorism, piracy and territorial disputes.
-NST
