Bangalore. August 20, 2006 (UNI)

A two-day conference to explore commercial activities between international defence equipment suppliers and the Indian companies will begin in Bangalore on Monday.

The conference is being organised by the world's premier defence contractor Lockheed Martin to enable its suppliers to establish inroads into the Indian companies.

Briefing newsmen, Lockheed Martin's Vice President of Business Development for India Orville Prins said about 15 associated US and international companies would attend the conference. Prominent among them include the BAE systems of Britain, Elbit of Israel, General Electrics, Pratt and Whitney and Raeytheon. About 50 Indian companies are expected to attend, he revealed.

Replying to queries, he said efforts will be made to establish relationships with both, private and public Indian companies, that can work with the company to meet licensed production and offset requirements related to future sales of F-16 or other Lockheed Martin products.

Indian companies have some excellent capabilities and the International suppliers team is expected to establish agreements this year that would result in export sales from India. ' We hope these projects will mark the beginning of mutually beneficial long term partnerships with Indian industry,' he remarked.

Answering another question he said F-16 remains the world's most sought after fighter aircraft. More than 12 nations have participated in F-16 production to date and the company has successfully established F-16 assembly lines in Belgium, the Netherlands, Turkey and South Korea. These overseas facilities have delivered more than 900 F-16 aircraft.