Lucknow: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh sought to synchronise the export capability of the US defence sector at a conference at DefExpo on Thursday, with the ever-expanding opportunities in the defence manufacturing sector available in India to take the relationship between the two countries towards a collaborative approach from the traditional buyer-seller.
Speaking at a seminar organised during the ongoing DefExpo2020 in Lucknow by the US-India Business Council (USIBC), Singh referred to several key agreements signed in the 2 + 2 dialogue during his recent trip to USA and said that the "Indo-US relationship will move towards collaboration approach from traditional 'Buyer-Seller.' I am confident that this relationship will be more dynamic and vibrant in future."
He added, "The US is one of the largest defence exporters for India and the world. At the same time, the defence manufacturing sector in India is growing at rapid pace. In such a situation, our collaboration can prove to be the biggest collaboration of this century."
While assuring the businesses that the reforms that have been made, would continue, he urged the US business community to take maximum advantage of them and invest in India.
He appreciated the role played by the USIBC in improving the trade relationship between the two countries.
Later, the minister also visited the UP state's pavilion. While appreciating the support extended by the state government in organising DefExpo at such a huge scale, he hoped that the investment opportunities would increase in the state with the establishment of a defence corridor in Uttar Pradesh.
He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's aim of taking Indian economy to $5 trillion required focussed approach and that Uttar Pradesh, being the largest state of the country, had a major role to play, in terms of its economic contribution.