More than 10,000 delegates registered to attend the two-day conference at the CE Centre to view 307 exhibitors stretched over 120,000 square feet of indoor exhibit space, as well as an outdoor exhibit.
Representatives from 17 foreign delegations, every Canadian province, and all three levels of government attended the event that has been going on for at least 12 years. Mr Page was unable to provide the exact year the conference was founded.
“It was important for us to learn that the government’s perspective on leveraging defence procurement is beginning to align with our industries’ thinking,” said Mr. Page in a statement.
Over 100 cars had to be turned away from the CE Centre on opening day Wednesday, as there were not enough parking spots to accommodate all visitors. Mr. Page said they will seek parking solutions for next year’s conference to be held in the same location in May 2013.
The defence and security sector employs 109,000 Canadians across the country and generates $12.6 billion in annual revenues, just over half of which is from exports.
For every $1 billion of defence and security spent on Canadian firms, $710 million of GDP is created, $1 billion of additional export revenue is created, 18,000 jobs are created or sustained and $428 million of tax revenue is returned to Canada, according to an economic impact study of defence and security by KPMG.
“This year’s event was a success from a number of perspectives including attendance and the ability to get our messages out to government,” Mr. Page stated.
CANSEC is an annual defence and security conference hosted in Ottawa to display the latest in defence technology. It is hosted by CADSI, a national not-for-profit business association headquartered in Ottawa that represents over 900 members companies in the defence and security industry.
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