SHAH ALAM: Will there be LIMA next year. It’s about a year before the next instalment of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace show rolls into the picture. However, everyone remained in the dark as when is the exact dates for the 2017 event.

And before they could fix the dates for the show – the slot is March, next year (it was held from March 15 to 21 in 2015 – the school holidays), apparently, they have to find the event organiser first.

Industry sources told Malaysian Defence that three companies were invited to take part in a closed tender to select the LIMA 17 organiser, recently. The sources said long time LIMA organiser, HWLIMA Sdn Bhd, was among the three companies invited but it was not the favourite to run next year’s show.

It is expected that the company selected to run LIMA 2017 will be announced at the upcoming DSA 2016, to be held in mid-April. DSA Exhibition And Conference Sdn Bhd, the organiser of DSA 2016, is one of the other two companies being considered to run LIMA 2017.The third company involved is Clarion Events of the UK.

And before anyone digresses, it is unlikely that the uncertainty of LIMA is due to the Najib and Tun Mahathir spat. Of course, as the Tun was instrumental in setting up the LIMA series – back in 1991 – some quarters will still be making the accusations.

The uncertainty over the show is exemplified by the LIMA Official website which remained under construction. Yes other trade shows scheduled for next year may not have “live” websites yet but another one to be held in this region next year, is already available for browsing for further information

— Malaysian Defence