Kazakhstan looking forward to India's participation in KADEX-2016

Kazakhstan is looking forward to India's participation in one of its significant defence-related exhibitions, KADEX-2016, said a senior official of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in New Delhi.

Lt. Colonel Ruslan Khomutov, the Defence Attache at the Embassy of Kazakhstan in New Delhi, told ANI that KADEX-2016 will be held in Kazakhstan's capital Astana between July 2 and July 5 and added that the event is part of plans to develop his country's military-industrial complex.

He said that KADEX-2016 will be the largest international exhibition of weapons system and military equipment in Central Asia, where at least 400 domestic and international defence manufacturing companies would be exhibiting their products, including some firms from India.

Lt. Col. Khomutov further told ANI that this exhibition would contribute to the development of military-technical cooperation and the overall strengthening of strategic relations between Kazakhstan and India.

He said that over 15000 military personnel are expected to visit KADEX-2016, which would have seven thematic areas, namely, aviation technology, unmanned aerial vehicles and space technologies; weapons and equipment of ground and naval forces; air defense systems and assets; logistic and technical support of troops; IT, communication systems and assets; robotics; alternative energy sources in the military sphere.

He also informed that Kazakhstan is celebrating the Fatherland Defender's Day today and Victory Day on May 9, both of which were highly symbolic to the people of Kazakhstan.

Both of these days, he said, "show the continuity of the military traditions of the winners of the Great Patriotic War (World War-2) and the present generation of our country's defenders."

Lt. Col. Khomutov said that the armed forces of Kazakhstan are a powerful shield that safeguards his country and their main aim is to ensure the security of Kazakhstan and its people.

"The current generation of the defenders continues the traditions of bravery of ancestors and devoted to mandates of the older generation. Today, Kazakhstan has created a modern, compact sized, well-equipped and capable army, air defense force and naval force," he said.

However, he cautioned that modern challenges and threats require the armed forces of Kazakhstan to remain vigilant and be prepared to give rapid and effective responses to security-related challenges.

In this regard, he said that the Supreme Commander of the Kazakhstan Armed Forces and the nation's President Nursultan Nazarbayev has provided guidelines for the armed forces to train and fine tune their work in areas such as combat, operational and mobilization training; development of the military-industrial complex; construction of military infrastructure; improving of the military education system; international cooperation; ideological work.

He said that the armed forces of Kazakhstan have been tasked with the responsibility of protecting the nation's core values - independence, peace and stability.