403 exhibitors to showcase power and glory of latest models

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IT is all systems go for LIMA 2011, set to be the biggest yet with the participation of more than 400 exhibitors from 56 countries.

The 11th International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition, held from today till Dec 10, has attracted an 403 exhibitors this year.

This is up from the 325 who attended in 2009.

HW LIMA Sdn Bhd managing director Ahmad Dzuhri said 64 aircraft and 59 warships would also be on display at the defence and trade show.

Sophisticated craft: The country's second submarine KD Tun Razak docked at Awana Porto Malai in conjunction with the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace show

He said Malaysia’s National Aerospace & Defence Industries Sdn Bhd (NADI) would be the largest participant and EADS — comprising the Eurocopter, Cassidian, Astrium, and Airbus subsidiaries — the largest foreign exhibitor among the 15 pavilions.

“We are targeting some 83,000 visitors for this year’s event, of which 45,000 will be from the trade and corporate sector and 38,000 from the general public.

“This year’s LIMA introduces some new initiatives to promote business opportunities for the participants such as the Business 2 Business pavilion and the SME pavilion to spur local participation in the aerospace and maritime sectors,” he said.

Sleek beauty: Technician Razlan Zainal polishing an AgustaWestland AW109 for LIMA 2011 at Langkawi. The aircraft is a lightweight, twin-engine eight-seat helicopter built by an Anglo-Italian manufacturer

He added that specialised conferences would also be organised.

Government departments and agencies involved in the exhibition are ready to ensure its success.

The agencies and departments involved are the Langkawi Fire and Rescue Department, Langkawi District Hospital, Langkawi Health Office and the Langkawi Municipal Council.

Langkawi Fire and Rescue chief Yaakob Hassan said 220 officers and personnel had been assigned to four operation centres at various locations including the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre (MIEC) in Padang Matsirat, Awana Porto Malai and Kuala Teriang.

Magnificient warbird: A Eurofighter Typhoon of the Austrian Air Force at Lima 2011 at Langkawi. It is a twin-engine canard-delta wing multirole combat aircraft, designed and built by a consortium of three companies EADS, Alenia Aeronautica and BAE Systems

The department has also deployed equipment and vehicles, including jet skis and motorcycles.

Langkawi District Hospital director Dr Selahuddeen Abdul Aziz said 258 workers including specialists, medical assistants and nurses had been grouped into 11 medical teams.

They will be deployed mostly at MIEC and Awana Porto Malai.

Langkawi Health Officer Dr Mansor Ismail said checks on food premises such as restaurants, hotel kitchens, shops and stalls had been stepped up.

“We want operators to ensure cleanliness to prevent any incident of food poisoning,” he said, adding that several eateries were ordered to close for not complying with the directive.