NIIO will facilitate self-reliance in armed forces: CM
LUCKNOW: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday launched the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) at an online programme that also witnessed the signing of MoUs between the Indian Navy and Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA).
Speaking on the occasion, chief minister Yogi Adityanath said the launching of NIIO would lead to innovation and self-reliance in the Indian armed forces.
Yogi said the MoU between the Navy and UPEIDA would help the former in finding a solution to various problems through the ‘centre of excellence’ to be set up in the upcoming defence corridor.
The UPEIDA is setting up the ‘centre of excellence’ there with cooperation of IIT-BHU and IITKanpur.
The chief minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for ‘Aatm Nirbhar’ Bharat’ laid emphasis on innovation and selfreliance. He said the defence ministry has decided to manufacture of 101 items of the defence sector in India and this would not only be helpful in realising the dream of ‘Aatm Nirbhar Bharat’ but also help the defence industrial corridor.
He said expeditious changes in the defence industry were the need of the hour and there was a need to pay attention towards the PM’s ‘make in India’ vision.
Rajnath Singh said innovation and ‘swadeshi’ would play a great role in realizing the Prime Minister’s vision of making India self-reliant.
He expressed his gratitude to the chief minister for taking the defence corridor work ahead.
Chief executive officer, UPEIDA, Avnish Awasthi signed the MoU on behalf of UPEIDA with the navy.
Indian Navy also signed MoUs with the Raksha Shakti University (RSU), Gujarat; Maker Village, Kochi and Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) at the programme. A compendium of Indian Navy’s indigenisation plans titled ‘Swavlamban’ was also released on the occasion.