Defence & Security Equipment International
Every two years, thousands of trade and military visitors converge on London's Docklands for Defence Systems & Equipment International (DSEi). It is an important event in the international military equipment sales calendar and is organised in association with the government's Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO).
In 2005 DSEi confirmed its position as one of the leading defence shows in the world with around 1200 exhibitors from 35 countries. It is a "tri-service defence exhibition", which means it is a forum for selling military equipment of all kinds for land, sea and air. Its organisers, Reed Exhibitions, a subsidiary of information giant Reed Elsevier, puts its mission like this:
"DSEi is a key event for the total supply chain providing a platform for the whole of the defence & military aerospace community... We aim to create the optimal business environment and recognise that DSEi fulfils an important role within the selling process for defence companies... To achieve this we deliver: Well-organised top level international delegations, UK ministers and senior staff involved in UK defence procurement, [and] senior international visitors and military influencers..."
DSEi's history
Between 1976 and 1991, the British Army Equipment Exhibition and the Royal Navy Equipment Exhibition were held on alternate years in Aldershot and Portsmouth respectively. Overseas delegations attended by invitation only.
In 1993 the two exhibitions were combined and held every other year until the government decided to privatise the exhibition. Exhibitions company Spearhead launched the first DSEi in 1999 at Chertsey in Surrey. In 2001 it moved to its current location at the ExCel centre in London Docklands.
Last year's DSEi
DSEi 2005 was held from September 13th - 16th. It was 30% bigger than DSEi 2003, and products and services related to Homeland security, anti-terrorism, access control, and personal security were on display alongside traditional defence systems and equipment. The next show takes place 11th-14th September 2007.
External links
Official Sites