Secretary for Department
of Defence Production, Raj Kumar on Monday said that India is preparing
country-wise profiles of products, weapons, and platforms to promote their
exports. He also said that the domestic defence industry will hold web interactions
with the representative of friendly countries to figure out their requirements.
“We are preparing
country-wise profiles of products, weapons and platforms which are probably
needed by our friendly countries. So we are now planning to start web
interaction led by the industry,” Kumar said.
“That country’s
defence attache, our DPSUs (defence public sector undertakings), industry, will
then figure out what is in the store for us to promote there for exports,”
he further said.
Kumar said the
government will be standing side by side with the domestic industry through its
defence attaches, embassies and diplomatic channels to promote exports.
To promote indigenous
production, the Defence Ministry on August 9 announced restrictions on import
of 101 weapons and military platforms including light combat helicopters,
conventional submarines and cruise missiles under a staggered timeline till
2024.
Kumar said a second
list of import-restricted defence items will be notified soon.
“This is the
first list we are examining and then a second list will also come. We expect
you (industry) to come forward and start investing to meet our
requirements,” he said.
Also read: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh releases country’s ‘negative import’ list
As successful domestic
bidders move to the defence equipment production stage, the Department of Defence
Production department will share their details with the Uttar Pradesh and Tamil
Nadu defence corridor authorities, who “will compete in attracting your
units to their respective states”, the senior Defence ministry official
said.
As secretary of the
Department of Defence Production, Kumar heads the collegiate committee that
approves the “Make II” category of projects.
Under the Make II
category, no government funding is given to the Indian company for the
prototype development process. If a prototype developed by the company meets
the standards set by the armed forces, an order is placed for such equipment or
platforms.
“Everything,
whether it is defence industrial corridor, or whether it is defence production
and export promotion policy, or whether it is a negative list – everything
works in the same direction that we have to be among the top producers of
defence items,” he said.
India is one of the
most lucrative markets for global defence giants. The country has figured among
the top three global importers of military hardware for the last eight years.
The Indian armed
forces are projected to spend around USD 130 billion in capital procurement in
the next five years.
