KUALA LUMPUR: The Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (Lima) 2023 will be held from May 23 to 27.

       Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said that the return of Lima was something that was anticipated as the previous iteration was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

       "With the success of this year's Defence Services Asia (DSA) there's no reason not to hold Lima next year. The time is right," he said at the pre-launch event at Wisma Pertahanan here on Wednesday (June 8).

       Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, who was also at the ceremony, said that the exhibition would help to spur the economy, especially the maritime and aerospace industries.

       Early statistics show that around 600 exhibitors and 20 countries will participate in the exhibition.

       "As a maritime country, we have to take advantage of the shipping industry of creating and maintaining ships, which is valued at more than RM15.3 bil," he said.