19 Apr 21. The Daily Telegraph reported on Saturday that ‘World’s largest arms fair (Ed: DSEI) set to be called off over travel curbs.’ The (bi-)annual Docklands event sees multi-billion-pound arms deals sealed over canapés, but Covid may force it online
The world’s largest arms fair, scheduled to be held in London in September, is on the verge of being cancelled by its organisers with travel restrictions expected for months to come.
There are concerns international military staff and business leaders from the global defence industry will be prevented from attending the biennial event at the Excel in Docklands.
Exhibitors have told The Sunday Telegraph that Clarion, DSEI’s organiser, has privately warned them the show, where visitors negotiate sensitive multi-billion-pound arms deals over canapés, is in danger of being written off.
If DSEI is scrapped a virtual version will be staged, with a physical event planned again in 2023.
A formal decision is expected at the end of May, once government guidelines for live events are released.
The last time DSEI was staged in 2019 it attracted 36,000 visitors from 114 nations.
A spokesman for Clarion said: “The priority is delivering an event that meets the expectations of customers.”
(Source: Daily Telegraph)
BATTLESPACE Comment: This announcement was expected given the current travel regulations and the requirement to travel by DLR to Excel. BATTLESPACE understands that the final result may be a mix of live exhibition with virtual events. BATTLESPACE will publish our special DSEI online and printed issue as well as a Show Daily and allow special distribution for advertisers. Watch this space! We thank Adam Konowe of TMP Government LLC, part of Radancy, in the USA for drawing our attention to this announcement.