KUALA LUMPUR, April 13 — After four-year hiatus, the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (Lima) Exhibition is set to steal the limelight with its 16th edition next month.

The exhibition is expected to involve around 1,200 local and international companies, thus making this event the largest ever held.

Alpine Integrated Solution Sdn Bhd (Alpine) executive director Muhammad Aqlan Pacleb said this is possible as several companies may have more than one subsidiary that is also potentially involved in Lima 2023 (Lima ‘23).

"If we can get 1,200 companies, then this is the context where we can say that Lima this year is bigger, and we have yet to include government agencies. So, the number has increased,” he said in an exclusive interview with Bernama.

He further said that with the encouraging number of participants received, it was appropriate for the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre in Langkawi, the main venue for Lima, to be further expanded following feedback from industry players, especially the aerospace sector.

"I can proudly say that being the organiser this time around, we will have the biggest defence, security and even maritime and aerospace exhibition, plus commercial in this region,” he said.

Lima traditionally involves the Defence Ministry (Mindef) as it is related to the development of the defence industry. However, in 2019 and this year’s edition, it involves Mindef for the Maritime and Aerospace Defence Industry and the Transport Ministry (MoT) for the Maritime and Aerospace Commercial Industry.

According to Muhammad Aqlan, another factor that makes Lima ’23 better in terms of exhibitor participation is the cooperation of various ministries that are committed to ensuring the successful organisation of the event, thus convincing many local and international companies to participate.

"We will never see this (kind of exhibition) in another part of the world. Through Lima, we can see Mindef and MOT working together. Other than that, Motac (Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry), KPDN (Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry), as well as the Kedah government are also very helpful in ensuring that Lima’23 is going to be successful,” he said.

Themed ‘The Nexus of Asia’s Maritime and Aerospace Trade’, Lima ’23 will be held from May 23 to 27.

Meanwhile, Alpine managing director Anita Jacobson said 70 per cent of the 600 exhibitors who have confirmed their participation are international companies from 30 nations.

She said this is the largest number ever recorded, compared to 400 companies in the previous edition.

"We are still selling the booths because there is still a lot of demand...maybe we will sell it right up to after Hari Raya Aidilfitri as long as there is space, and now there are 10 to 15 more booths available,” she said. — Bernama