KUALA LUMPUR: Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LlMA) is expected to make a huge comeback next May as the country's borders are now fully opened with travel activities returning to pre-pandemic times.

Chief of Defence Forces Gen Tan Sri Affendi Buang said Malaysia is confident that LIMA 2023 will become the most sought-after event in the region after the last LIMA edition or LIMA 19 as the 2021 edition had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"With the hiatus of three years since LIMA 19, not only is the government and organisers gearing up in full force but exhibitors, foreign delegations and the public are all excited and are very much looking forward to LIMA 2023.

"The LIMA series which debuted in 1991 has come a long way in the last 30 years where it acquired its position as Asia Pacific's biggest and most sought-after event," he said.

Affendi was speaking at The Farmborough Air Show 2022 (FIA 2022) joint press conference held in United Kingdom on Wednesday, which was also attended by Transport Ministry secretary-general Datuk Isham Ishak. A video version of the press conference was made available to Bernama.


LIMA 2023 will be held from May 23 to 27 2023 in Langkawi.

Meanwhile, Isham said Malaysia's participation in FIA 2022 is a good platform to kick start the 10-month promotion campaign for LIMA 2023, with Alpine Integrated Solution Sdn Bhd appointed organiser for LIMA 2023 and the event will also be promoted at MATRADE's Malaysia Pavilion.

He added that a total of 14 Malaysian companies and three government agencies are participating in the five-day show which ends on Friday.

-- BERNAMA