Defence firms should target export market: Sitharaman

Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday exhorted the indigenous defence manufacturing industry to look beyond the procurement by the armed forces and tap the lucrative export market for growth.

Underscoring the need to balance indigenisation with export-centric manufacturing for greater economic vitality and sustainability, Sitharaman said the Centre would provide all necessary handholding to domestic defence manufacturers to scale up production and match up to the stringent quality control norms of the export market.

She informed that the Centre had already relaxed standing norms of procurement to spur innovation and procure such defence wares if they are found to be appropriate. “The defence manufacturers can now suo moto innovate and suggest products which could be used by the forces. If they pass the mandatory trial and testing stages, there is an assured market for them,” she announced adding that the government would guarantee procurement for at least 10 years.

Sitharaman was speaking at a defence corridor event in Aligarh on Saturday afternoon in the presence of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, senior officials of the three wings of the Indian armed forces apart from the representatives of some foreign countries and defence manufacturers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on February 21,

THE DEFENCE MANUFACTURERS CAN NOW SUO MOTO INNOVATE AND SUGGEST PRODUCTS WHICH COULD BE USED BY THE FORCES. IF THEY PASS THE TRIALS, THERE IS AN ASSURED MARKET FOR THEM” NIRMALA SITHARAMAN, Defence minister

2018, announced the setting up of a defence corridor in Bundelkhand region of UP. Another defence corridor is coming up in Tamil Nadu.

“I can assure you there is momentum in both the corridors and our ministry officials are in constant touch with the various stakeholders including industry,” Sitharaman said adding the Centre was taking a holistic approach towards these proposed corridors so that there is a ready supply of trained manpower and presence of market before production starts.