Kuala Lumpur. 31 March 2022. As the curtains come down on Defence Services Asia and NATSEC Asia 2022, the organisers, exhibitors and attendees leave with a number of key takeaways.
First, this edition of the DSA has been an unqualified success, despite being the first major international exhibition hosted by Malaysia on the back of a global pandemic.
Clearly, the organisation, and stringent precautions and Covid-19 protocols put in place by the organisers have paid dividends in ensuring that the show was the safest.
Senior Minister of Defence, YB Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Hussein had said that this edition of DSA and NATSEC Asia “would send a strong signal to the world that Malaysia was open for business” and provide a “much-needed catalyst to spur and contribute to our recovery efforts”, post-pandemic.
DSA and NATSEC Asia 2022 has also reaffirmed its status as the gateway to the global defence and security market when more than RM7.1 billion worth of contracts and MoUs were inked at the show, primarily between the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Home Affairs, and several defence and security firms.
One of the biggest deals signed at the show was between Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and NS Corporation to collaborate in joint business opportunities in the aerospace, space, and ecosystem development in Malaysia as part of the Vision Valley 2.0 initiative.
These deals attest to DSA and NATSEC Asia’s stature as the biggest and most effective marketplace for defence and security-related hardware and solutions to meet the most stringent of requirements.
It also speaks volumes as to the trust and confidence these market leaders have in DSA as a global marketplace and a gateway to the world.
Apart from being a showcase of the latest in defence and security hardware and solutions, DSA and NATSEC Asia is also an important platform for collaboration and cooperation between nations.
A prime example of this was the announcement made during the show that Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines would enhance security in and around the Sulu and Sulawesi Seas, under the Trilateral Cooperative Arrangement (TCA), between the three nations.
Regional nations also agreed to enhance cooperation in border security, combating trans border crimes such as human trafficking and the smuggling of illicit drugs, as well as in the area of cyber warfare and cyber terrorism.
To mark the end of the show, a ‘Thank You’ Reception was held today (March 31) at the Foyer, Level 1, MITEC.
The Guests of Honour were the Senior Minister of Defence, YB Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin bin Tun Hussein, and Deputy Minister of Home Affairs II, YB Datuk Jonathan bin Yasin representing the Minister of Home Affairs, YB Dato’ Seri Hamzah Bin Zainuddin.
At the same function, an official announcement was made with regard to DSA & NATSEC Asia 2024. The dates of the next event will be from 6 – 9 May 2024.
In summing up the 17th edition of this exhibition – now in its 34th year – DSA Exhibition and Conference Sdn Bhd chairman Tan Sri Asmat Kamaludin said that organising this year’s show posed the biggest challenge in its entire history.
“Having postponed what was to be DSA and NATSEC Asia 2020 two years ago, makes this year’s show all the more meaningful and crucial, especially in these times.
“The success of DSA and NATSEC Asia 2022 bears tremendous testament to the years of preparation and planning that have gone into organising this event.”
