Panaji, Mar 28 (IANS): Was Prime Minister Narendra Modi's high octane 'Make in India' campaign responsible for the increased participation at the Defence Expo 2016 or was it just Goa, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar wondered aloud at the inauguration of the event on Monday.

"The participation was beyond our expectations as 1,035 (companies participating) is a number which exceeded our expectation by 20 to 25 percent. Maybe, Goa has something to do with it or maybe 'Make in India' programme declared by us has something to do with it," said Parrikar, a former chief minister of Goa, while speaking at the Defence Expo 2016 inaugural function held at the Naqueri plateau.

Traditionally held in the national capital, the DefExpo 2016 was relocated to the Naqueri plateau in south Goa for the current edition as a new convention centre is being built at the Pragati Maidan in Delhi.

Defence Expo 2016 is the country's biggest land, naval and homeland security exhibition. Goa is one of the top beach and nightlife tourism destinations in the country and attracts nearly four million tourists every year.