ASDWire distribution date: Mon, 8 Sep 2008 17:01:00 GMT +0100

Organisers of APDS 2008 Decide Not To Proceed with Event

September 8, 2008 --[ASDWire]--The organisers of the Asia Pacific Defence and Security Exhibition (APDS 2008) held discussions late last week with the South Australian State Government over the event scheduled to take place in Adelaide, on November 11-13, with the result of the exhibition being called off.

The major issues discussed revolved around the exhibition being targeted by a highly organized and violent protestor campaign, with a history of focusing on similar high profile events. Public safety issues and security risk levels eventually persuaded the organisers to decide not to proceed with this year’s event.

The executive director of APDS Exhibition Ltd, Phil Guy, confirmed, “Last week SAPOL (South Australian Police) advised the Government and APDS about serious issues of public order and security leading up to and during the event. Following that advice, and further discussions with the South Australian Government, we had to make a difficult decision. Providing security against these radical and violent protestors has great financial implications. “

Naturally, we are very disappointed. Over the past 18 months APDS has conducted an extensive global marketing campaign and had received good support from many companies in the international defence and security markets who wished to promote their products to buyers in the Asia Pacific region, and who hoped to do so in Adelaide. Public safety and a secure environment for our exhibitors to carry out their business is paramount, therefore the event will not be proceeding in November as planned. However, there is clearly the potential to pursue the interest from these international firms in a different format.”

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