Land not alloted to Def Expo in Goa yet

Land has not yet been allotted for premier defence meet Def Expo 2016, which is set to take place in Goa next year, parliament was told on Tuesday.

Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh told the Rajya Sabha, in a written reply, that it had been decided to organise Def Expo 2016 in Quitol, Naqueri Betul in Quepem area of south Goa, and the state government of Goa was requested to make approximately 150 acres of land available for the purpose.

"However, government of Goa has not allotted any land formally for the purpose to the ministry of defence," he said.

This is the first time the Def Expo, to be held March 28-31, will be organised in Goa. So far it took place in Delhi once in two years.

"No land was allotted for Def Expo in Delhi. Def Expo used to be organized in Pragati Maidan, a property of India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO), by hiring the space," the minister added.

Last year 232 foreign companies from 32 countries participated in the show along with 15 country pavilions.