- Expodefensa 2021 was held from November 29 to December 1 in the headquarters of Corferias in Bogotá, with more than 220 exhibitors, 62 Official Delegations from 24 countries including 28 Colombian Official Delegations, and more than 11,000 participants.
- The exhibition was inaugurated by the President of the Republic of Colombia, Iván Duque, who highlighted the national industry’s developments such as unmanned aircraft; vision capacity with Halcón helicopters; real-time micro-data processing to fight crime.
- National organizations such as CODALTEC, COTECMAR, INDUMIL and CIAC along with international companies, were the protagonists of this edition of the fair which was successfully confirmed as the epicenter of Latin America and the Caribbean in Security and Defense.
- During the exhibition, the first Orion Defense Ministers’ Summit occurred, with over 40 countries participating.
The Colombian Minister of Defense, Diego Molano, said: “It is with great enthusiasm that we close this successful version of Expodefensa 2021, which demonstrates once again that the Colombian Security and Defense sector is a world leader. We carried out a rich academic program, organized the “Orion” summit to reinforce multilateral strategies against micro-
trafficking and we held valuable bilateral working meetings with the invited countries to keep
contributing to the security of the region.”
Expodefensa continues to keep its promise to consolidate its position as the region’s most representative international fair for technological development and innovation in the Security and Defense field.
The exhibition’s success exceeded expectations in light of the global situation, thus supporting the economic reactivation of the sector and of Colombia. “Although the pandemic has led to a 30% drop in attendance at the world’s leading exhibitions, Expodefensa 2021 has matched the 2019 edition and exceeded the goals set for it. The offer is international, but the exhibition highlights a strong presence of the continent’s industry. Colombia is an example of it through its investment in its defense industrial and technological base and its governmental leadership of the Social and Business Group for Defense (GSED)”, stated Charles Beaudouin, CEO of COGES EVENTS.
228 exhibitors attended Expodefensa with a wide range of innovative products, including specialized drones for security work, boats and ships designed for the defense medical corps and the latest in weapons development technology.
The exhibition’s success exceeded expectations in light of the global situation, thus supporting the economic reactivation of the sector and of Colombia. “Although the pandemic has led to a 30% drop in attendance at the world’s leading exhibitions, Expodefensa 2021 has matched the 2019 edition and exceeded the goals set for it. The offer is international, but the exhibition highlights a strong presence of the continent’s industry. Colombia is an example of it through its investment in its defense industrial and technological base and its governmental leadership of the Social and Business Group for Defense (GSED)”, stated Charles Beaudouin, CEO of COGES EVENTS.
228 exhibitors attended Expodefensa with a wide range of innovative products, including specialized drones for security work, boats and ships designed for the defense medical corps and the latest in weapons development technology.
Besides, Andrés López Valderrama, executive president of Corferias, highlighted the qualities of the exhibition in terms of innovation and technological advances. “Expodefensa has become the hub through which the government can present advances in science,
technology and innovation adapted to the context of the pandemic. This exhibition was the ideal opportunity to both strengthen and acknowledge the capacity of our armed forces. The Security and Defense industrial sector plays a fundamental role in the reactivation of a country, considering that the prevalence of a nation’s sovereignty and independence creates the conditions for investment and business to flow safely and reliably, resulting in quality jobs and economic development.”
It is worth mentioning that for the first time, during this edition of the exhibition, the Orion Defense Ministers’ Summit was held. It brought together representatives of high-level positions specialized in Security and Defense. At this meeting, extremely important issues were discussed regarding the actions that can be carried out specifically to combat the transnational threat that is drug trafficking.
In addition, on the last day of the exhibition, the “National Security and Defense Forum” took place, with the participation of deputy defense ministers, various generals and colonels, mayors and governors. It emphasized the role of innovation and technology in the fight against micro-trafficking and crime in cities.
The next edition of the leading Security and Defense hub in Latin America and the Caribbean, Expodefensa, will be held from 27 to 29 November 2023, and we expect it to be as well received by the attending participants.