Tuesday, December 3rd. – The Minister of Defense, Maya Fernández, inaugurated in Valparaíso the thirteenth Exponaval 2024, the most important naval fair in Latin America, where the Armed Forces of the region and more than 100 exhibiting companies, 16 international delegations, and industry professionals seek to strengthen ties and promote technological innovation in defense and maritime security.
The kick-off of the exhibition was given by Minister Fernández together with Admiral Juan Andrés de la Maza, Commander-in-Chief of the Navy; Francisco Sotomayor, Executive Director of Fisa, and Carola Fuentes, General Manager of Fisa.
The international naval and defense industry fair is being held between December 3 and 6 at the Puerto Valparaíso Passenger Terminal and is organized by FISA, of the GL events group, and sponsored by the Chilean Navy. The exhibition is spread over an area of 12 thousand m2, and has exhibitors from more than 25 countries.
On the occasion, the Minister of Defense Maya Fernández highlighted the role of the fair. “Exponaval is an ideal platform for strengthening ties and fostering collaboration between the most relevant players in the defense and maritime industry worldwide”, said the Secretary of State.

“Many of you will have heard the President in his public account give us the task to the Ministry of Defense, Economy, and the Chilean Navy to propose a continuous national shipbuilding policy, which we have worked on with dedication and urgency to present to the country the governance and structure of the ecosystem that will allow the naval and maritime industry to increase its development and thus strengthen the economy, generating new jobs and putting us as a country on the road to development”, added Fernandez.

The Secretary of State emphasized that “this policy has a clear and ambitious objective: to position Chile as a regional power and become an obligatory reference in shipbuilding in the Southern Cone, since as a country we have the legitimate aspiration of becoming the shipyard of Latin America”.

Admiral De La Maza valued the event. “I am very happy because this year Exponaval has grown by almost 30% compared to the previous version.

“The participation of the Chilean Navy in the Expo Naval 2024 fair, together with the International Congress, which are held in parallel, is one of the activities that we develop in this contribution to technological progress and national industry, which are of relevance to ensure the operational availability, required efficiently and with a longed foreign independence”.

FISA’s executive director, Francisco Sotomayor, thanked the institutions present for their support.

“It is an honor and a source of pride to welcome 16 international delegations from friendly countries that have attended the thirteenth version of ExpoNaval. I would also like to thank the more than 110 exhibitors who, together with the Chilean Navy, make this biennial meeting possible, the only specialized meeting in naval defense, security and maritime port sector, which is held in the Latin American region and which has been recognized worldwide as a fundamental instance to promote and project regional interests in the naval fields”, said Sotomayor.

International Congress

In parallel to the exhibition, the international congress will be held on Wednesday under the theme: “The challenges for the defense industry in the new international order”, with the participation of 22 leading national and international experts, including keynote lectures by Admiral (R) James Stavridis, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander (2009-2013), who will participate by videoconference. And Vice Admiral Martin Connell, Second Sea Lord of the British Royal Navy, who will be present on Thursday, December 5.