Government Aims to Transform India into Global Defence Manufacturing Hub, Says Defense Minister Rajnath Singh at SIDM Session.
New Delhi:
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the seventh annual session of the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) today, reaffirming the government’s commitment to empowering India’s defence industry and realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making India a global manufacturing hub.
Highlighting the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Singh emphasized the need for a robust defence industrial base. He outlined several initiatives aimed at achieving self-reliance in defence, including the creation of defence industrial corridors, the corporatisation of the Ordnance Factory Board, and the unveiling of the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020.
Singh noted that the annual defence production reached a record Rs. 1.27 lakh crore in FY 2023-24, with the private sector contributing Rs. 27,000 crore. He called for increased participation from private companies, aiming for their share to reach at least 50% of total defence production.
The Defense Minister urged the industry to reduce the import-export ratio and prepare a roadmap to attract foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) for investment and joint ventures. He stressed the importance of investing in cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, cyber defense, and autonomous systems to keep pace with global trends.
Singh also presented the SIDM Champion Awards, recognizing exceptional achievements in defence manufacturing. The session provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss India’s potential as a global defence exporter and innovation hub. Notable attendees included Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and SIDM President Rajinder Singh Bhatia.
