Lima 2011

By K. ASHRAF KAMMED
ashkam@thestar.com.my

Commercial aviation and shipbuilding segments will be added to the eleventh session of the Langkawi International Mari­time and Aerospace Exhibition (Lima ’11) show later this year, the Defence Minister said.
Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said segments of commercial and corporate aviation, commercial shipbuilding, maintenance, repair and overhaul and airport equipment and services would be re-introduced at this year’s exhibition.
“The segments are in line with expectations that Asia will lead global traffic by 2028. The exhibition for the commercial sector will provide more opportunities for companies to tap this lucrative market,” he said at the Lima ’11 launch at the Matrade Exhibition and Convention Centre here yesterday.
The exhibition will be held from Dec 6 to 10 in Pulau Langkawi.
Among the major attractions at this year’s show are the new Airbus A400M Airlifter aircraft, four of which are expected to supplement the RMAF fleet of 15 Hercules C-130s by 2015.
Defence Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Ismail Ahmad said this year’s Lima show was expected to attract about 500 companies and more than 50,000 visitors and investors from 31 countries.
RMAF chief Gen Datuk Rodzali Daud said visitors would be treated to a display by the 1Malaysia Air Display Team comprising five Extra-330 aircraft operated by the Aero 3 company of Germany.
Navy chief Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar said the navy would show off one of its submarines