KUALA LUMPUR: After a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the highly anticipated Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2022 and National Security (NATSEC) Asia 2022 exhibitions are now back, and undoubtedly eagerly awaited by local and global defence industry players.

The biennial event, which was last held in 2018, themed "Advancing into a New Era of Defence and Security", will be attended by more than 1,000 exhibitors from 60 countries, and is expected to attract 50,000 trade visitors worldwide.

It is also seen to play a big role in placing Malaysia on the international defence map, especially as the world moves into the post-pandemic era.

For the first time, the four-day DSA 2022 and NATSEC Asia 2022, which will take place from Monday, will be equipped with a virtual platform as a value-added component to help participants access content before, during and after the exhibition.

Germany, the United States, Ukraine, Belarus, Turkey, South Korea, Austria and Poland are among participating global military industry players in this year's event.

DSA executive director, Nadzeem Abdul Rahman, said that the implementation of the virtual platform at the exhibition was challenging for him, as it involved massive online access.

He said many countries affected by COVID-19 were unable to physically implement the exhibition and they had taken this opportunity to do so virtually.

"They (global defence industry players) see this as a business investment opportunity to expand their defence products market.

"If Malaysia does not take this opportunity (to do virtual exhibitions) then we will be left behind, and our defence industry has no potential to grow," he told Bernama recently.

According to him, the virtual implementation allows exhibitors to do business by appointment, using live chat or video calls to obtain information on defence products.

Commenting on compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs), Nadzeem said that every conference hall and venue for delegations and dignitaries would be equipped with state-of-the-art cameras.

"For example, if there is a conference in the hall limited to 1,000 people, if there are more than that number, then the camera will emit an alarm sound.

"It continues to send identification photos to the SOP compliance team and inform them that they are not allowed to enter," he said.

The DSA 2022 and NATSEC Asia 2022 exhibitions will be held from March 28 to 31 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), here.

DSA 2022 and NATSEC Asia 2022 are only open to high-level delegations, government employees, professionals and executives in the defence and security industry, as well as police and enforcement agencies.

-- BERNAMA