Latin America has become an important target market for the Israeli defense industry, say sources at the Ministry of Defense, ahead of the Fidae Chile 2006, which will be held in Santiago from March 27, through April 2. The Ministry said exports to this market account for 6% of annual defense exports, which now total $2.2 billion.
15 Israeli companies will be exhibiting at the fair. Israel’s national pavilion, which is organized by SIBAT - Foreign Defense Assistance and Defense Export Organization headed by Gen. (Ret.) Yosi Ben-Hanan, will be set up on a 500 sq.m. lot. The companies taking part are Rafael Armament Development Authority Ltd., Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd., Israel Military Industries Ltd. (IMI), A.O.B Technologies,Elbit Systems (Nasdaq: ESLT; TASE: ESLT), Azimuth Technologies, Elisra Group, RSL Electronics (TASE: RSEL), Aeronautics UAV Systems, ITL Optronics Ltd. , BVR Systems , Soltam Systems Ltd., IWI-Israel Weapons Industries and Tadiran Communications (TASE: TDCM).
SIBAT will also oversee and promote the participation by the Israeli defense industry in two more exhibitions during the coming year, Eurosatory Arms Fair in Paris and MSPO in Poland.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on March 12, 2006