New Delhi: "India is open to conducting business on a mutually beneficially collaborative basis, in the spirit of giving and take, for the all-around welfare of everyone", said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday. He was speaking at the Ambassadors' Round Table for Defence Expo 2022 organised here in the national capital. The Round Table was aimed to brief the Ambassadors of foreign missions about the planning, arrangements and other details of Defence Expo 2022, which will be held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat from March 10 to March 13.
Singh exuded confidence that DefExpo 2022 will bring all the latest technologies under one roof and provide a myriad of opportunities to the stakeholders in the aerospace and defence industry.
"Resurgent India, where defence manufacturing is an identified pillar of growth, will display its ability to take lead at DefExpo 2022. I am confident that pursuing the vision of PM Modi, DefExpo-2022 will sow the seeds of successful new ventures and international partnerships to promote shared prosperity, boost investment, expand manufacturing and bolster the aerospace and defence ecosystem in India, which shall be ready to serve the defence requirements of our friendly countries also," he said.
"DefExpo 2022 will provide an overview of what India has been able to achieve in terms of defence R&D and production, application of modern technologies, liberalised collaborative policies introduced by the Government in the last seven years", Singh said. Saying that the Government is committed to furthering the defence business interests through synergistic growth, he expressed confidence that increased international participation will lead to the development of mutually advantageous relationships between India and other countries.
Minister stated that the Indian aerospace and defence manufacturing sector is ready to soar to newer heights and it has the potential for R&D in space, cyberspace, futuristic capabilities and disruptive technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Block-chain, Virtual Reality, 3D Printing, Digital Frontier and Internet of Military Things.
Reaffirming the government's resolve to modernise the Armed Forces and make a strong & self-reliant defence industry, Singh said, various measures have been taken by the government, including increasing defence capital outlay in the annual budget of 2021-22 by 18.75 percent from the preceding year, which is the highest ever increment in the last 15 years. Other policy reforms include simplifying the industrial licensing process; allowing 74 percent Foreign Direct Investment through automatic route and 100 percent with government approvals for critical technologies; introduction of Open General Export License policy; positive indigenisation lists of 209 items; launch of seven new Defence companies and opening up of testing & trial facilities for the private sector etc. The reforms in defence manufacturing are attracting greater interest from Indian and foreign defence manufacturers, innovators, MSMEs.
He appreciated the efforts of the Indian defence industry and thanked the foreign aerospace and defence companies for investing in the Indian defence growth story. "It is because of the collaborative efforts of entities from all over the world that our defence exports have grown by 334 percent in last five years and now India is exporting to more than 75 countries. Our export performance is a strong indicator of the quality and competitiveness of our defence products," he said.
On this occasion, the Defence Minister also launched DefExpo 2022 website (www.defexpo.gov.in). The website provides online services to exhibitors, besides hosting informative content about the various indigenous defence products and tourism, arts and crafts of Gujarat. The website is an enabler for exhibitors to register and book space online on a first-come-first-serve basis, make online payments, book conference halls and venues for Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings. The website is the first interface and will make the process of booking and information access effortless.
Trade visitors will be able to buy their tickets from the website for visiting the show during business days i.e. 10th & 11th March 2022. Free Entry is planned for the general public on 12th & 13th March. Defence publications and Media will have to register online through the website.
More than 200 delegates, including Ambassadors, Heads of Missions and Defence Attaches attended the Round Table, reflecting the growing global interest in the Indian Defence space. Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Secretary (Defence Production) Raj Kumar and other senior officials of the Ministry of Defence & Government of Gujarat were also present.
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