What better proof can one demand of the trust the buyer and sellers have reposed in DefExpo 2004 than that the sellers have increased the space to display their wares from 7788 sq mts during DefExpo 2002 to 12,091 sq mts during the current year which is an increase of over forty per cent. Furthermore, the international participants too have chosen to increase their space from 2817 sq mts in 2002 to 4193 sq mts during the current year, a quantum jump of nearly forty per cent.

A few words about India's home-grown defence industry may not be out of place. Till not so long ago, India was shy to display its weapon-making capabilities. That coyness may have had Gandhian overtones once upon a time. Only recently, India chose to cast its eyes beyond the domestic military defence establishments and made a bid to provide weapons to the domestic non-military security establishments,. And only very recently, it has started looking for partners from the private sector and seeking export markets with some modest success. During 2002-03, the Ordnance Factories sold to non-defence customers equipment worth Rs. 869 crores. In the financial year 2003-04, their sales to non-defence customers are expected to touch Rs 944 crores.

Our export earning has also begun to show up. In 1999-2000, it was $ 17.4 million. In 2000-01; it touched $ 46.3 million and in 2001-02 it was $ 36.9 million. Last year, it was $ 47 million. The current financial year is expected to close with still better results.

HAL has a global reputation for its capabilities in the aeronautic field. However, during the last five years, the total export earning of HAL was $ 69.24 million. For the current year, it is expected to be $ 42.5 million. It may not be a very big amount. What is of significance is that not only have they succeeded to sell to non-defence buyers, but they have made modest but definite inroads into export markets also.