Article Posted on : - Jun 15, 2009

A bird's eye view of Paris Air Show, 2007. A file photo

New Delhi (PTI): Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju will represent India in the International Paris Air Show beginning on Monday.

During his three-day stay in France, Mr. Raju will meet French Defence Minister Herve Morin and senior officials of leading international defence companies.

India would have a good presence at the 48th edition of the week-long show with major aeronautical players like HAL and other firms like Samtel Display Systems and S M Creative Electronics displaying their exhibits, an official release said here on Sunday.

The Minister is being accompanied by HAL chairman Ashok Nayak, CMD of BEL A K Datt and senior officials of the Defence Ministry.

Reports from Bangalore said Indian participation in the Paris Air Show 2009 will be limited to displaying a few exhibits at the chalets. Due to the financial pressures created by the global economic recession, there will be no flight demonstrations by any Indian aircraft in the Paris Air Show, said sources in the Ministry of Defence.

Indian aircrafts have given flight demonstrations in the Paris Air Show every year since 2003. The indigenously developed Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv which has been a regular since the 2003 edition will be not be seen this year at the Le Bourget Airport in Paris.

“This year, the Indian participation will be a low-key affair, recession alone is not the reason for this, our priorities are different now and we are aiming to sell our products directly to prospective customers," the sources said.

“Apart from the transportation costs which will come up to Rs 8 to 10 crore, there are others factors. For instance, the transportation and accommodation of crew members and officials has its costs too," the sources added.