Best time to create indigenous defence capabilities – Experts
DIIA Regional Activator conference held in Pune
Pune 21 December 2017 : With Government’s thrust on Make in India and liberalization of Defense licenses , this is the best time for industry to get onto the defence bandwagon and create indigenous defence capabilities according to various experts . Defence Innovators and Industry Association (DIIA) had organisd the DIIA Regional Activator conference in Pune in association with World Wide Oil Field Machines and L&T at The Westin with the theme “Building Alliance for Self-Reliance”. More than 150 MSMEs participated in the day long deliberations which highlighted the potential of cities like Pune , Nashik , Aurangabad and Nagpur as possible defence hubs in future. KM Rajan Director ARDE , Rahul Chaudhary Chairman of DIIA and CEO Tata Power , Cmde Mukesh Bhargava VP Defence L&T , Harshawardhan Gune Head Startegic Products Worldwide Oil Field Machines were present on the occasion. The DIIA calender was released on the occassion.
KM Rajan Director ARDE said that with Government’s thrust on Make in India , MoDs focus on indigenized products and the technology development fund there are a lot of opportunities for industry and innovators. Long term planning, strategic approach, vision and prioritization are the key factors essential for indigenization of defence. Industry experts, innovators need to influence the policy making to give indigenization maximum importance. It will also provide a lot of employment opportunities.
Cmde Mukesh Bhargava VP Defence L&T said that the real Make in India can be propelled through defense manufacturing. . This is still an industry in nascent stages but with government thrust on Make in India and liberalisation of defence licensed presents a huge opportunity for private sector not only big players and MSMEs who will be important part of the supply chain. Stringent quality requiremnts and standards will be a challenge though .
In his welcome address Rahul Chaudhary Chairman of DIIA said that the charter of DIIA is to make Self Reliance come into processes . For defence indigenization to happen we have to create our own Intellectual Property , R &D and products . With extreme cold and warm temperatures on different borders , we cannot defend them unless we have Made in India products . So there is a need for developing a robust defence Industrial base .
Defence Innovators and Industry Association (DIIA) is a community of Industrialists, Innovators, Scholars and Ex-officers who are committed towards the platform of Indigenization and the goal of Self-reliance, we seek to reach out to different quarters of our country to mobilize the Industry.DIIA is working in partnership with the Government of India to resolve the crisis of import dependence for foreign arms in the Indian defence establishment.DIIA is an association of Indian Defence Companies with the conviction that Design and Development is the fastest way to Self-Reliance in Defence. DIIA champions the view point that self-sufficiency in Defence can be achieved through government policies that pro-actively encourage indigenous R&D. It provides a platform for like-minded organizations to rally around, collaborate and co-operate to forge ahead in making ‘Design, Develop and Make by India’ a sustainable initiative. DIIA believes that indigenously designed, developed and manufactured products should be given higher preference than the products that are manufactured under ToT, whether licensed or bought-out.With the Mission of “Make in India” the Defence & Aerospace Segment has opened up for Indian Industries. Imports that shoot up to 70% for our Defence Need, Indigenization has become the Priority in this Sector with the anticipated expenditure on Indigenous Projects amounting to INR 16 Lakh Cr. in the next 5 years.
