MOSCOW. June 20 (Interfax) - Representatives of 41 countries have so far confirmed their participation in the Army 2023 International Military and Technical Forum, which will take place from August 14 to 20, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday.
"As of today, 41 foreign countries have expressed their desire to send their delegations to the upcoming forum," Shoigu said at a meeting of the Russian Defense Ministry board.
"A dynamic capability demonstration of exported military and dual-use products is planned for foreign guests, and a military-technical cooperation day will take place," he said.
"The main elements of promising reconnaissance and artillery systems will be displayed at the exhibition grounds. Defense industry companies and scientific research organizations will share their experience and developments in improving the means of armed combat, taking into account the experience of the special military operation," Shoigu said.
He said that the Russian government and the Ministry of Industry and Trade would prepare an exhibition on the Russian defense industry's diversification.
"For the first time, the Defense Ministry jointly with the National Center for Artificial Intelligence Development will open a specialized exhibition of cutting-edge achievements in the field of domestic IT technology and AI technology," Shoigu said.
"Over 300 scientific and business events on current aspects of development within the Armed Forces, the Russian military and industrial sector, and international military and technical cooperation are planned," he said.
"Coordinated efforts by the military command authorities and all interested bodies are required for the forum to be successful," he said.
"It is essential [that we] take special control of security during this event," he said.
Shoigu said that 1,500 enterprises and organizations presented 28,000 military and dual-use products at the forum last year.
The participants concluded state contracts worth 525 billion rubles. In total, 340 scientific and business events took place involving 21,000 experts. The total number of visitors was almost two million, he said.