India Invites US Defense Companies to Establish Joint R&D Manufacturing Centers
The Indian Defense Minister invites US defense companies to set up manufacturing in India as he opines that transformative changes in the Indian defense industry have created a conducive landscape for Indian industry's growth.
Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has invited US companies to establish manufacturing centers in India and develop technology collaborations with Indian industries to create a global supply chain free from vulnerabilities and uncertainties.
The defense minister addressed a seminar organized by the US-India Business Council (UIBC) and the Society of Indian Defense Manufacturers (SIDM) as part of the 12th DefExpo in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on October 20, 2022. The session was conducted on the theme ‘New Frontiers in US-India Defense Cooperation: Next Generation Technology, Innovation and Make in India.’
Rajnath Singh noted that the Indian defense industry has been observing transformative changes through progressive reforms for the last eight years. He asserted that these reforms had created a favorable environment for the Indian industry's growth through transparency, predictability, and institutionalization of several measures for business easily. He also emphasized that the path to Aatmanirbhar Bharat is a comprehensive set of policy frameworks seeking to build indigenous technological and production capacity and capability with cooperation, participation, and collaboration with reputed institutions and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) from friendly nations.
The defense minister expressed that the idea is to manufacture in India for the Indian market and export to friendly countries like the Make in India, Make for the World policies. The primary goal is to meet the Indian armed forces' requirements and establish long-term linkage to the global supply chains of foreign OEMs to meet global demands.
Through these linkages, India looks forward to collaborating with a secure and strong global supply chain for the free world to ensure uninterrupted and reliable access to defense equipment and other strategic materials for India and its partners, including the US. Mr Singh also mentioned that, as India’s defense base advances, private sector businesses from the US could explore the vast potential for creating in India and exporting from India.
Furthermore, the minister highlighted a few initiatives taken by the Indian government to achieve the objective, including an increase in the number of procurement categories to foster greater Indian industry participation and attract foreign firms to manufacture in India. India is delighted to work with the US, India’s valued partner, to strengthen India’s commercial and strategic relationship and to attract US investment to create a high-technology defense production ecosystem in India. Collaboration with US companies would be a crucial strategic force multiplier for India, apart from being a wealth and job creator.
