New Delhi. 21 December 2017. As a huge encouragement to the Indian defence industry, the Defence Production Secretary, Dr Ajay Kumar recently asked the industry to identify model defence projects and the necessary policy amendments for replication in India. Talking to the industry in an interaction facilitated by Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) at the headquarters of Confederation of Indian Industry, the Secretary emphasized on the need to remain ahead of the game, move from a prescriptive phase to being predictive and create Champion Industry in the sector.
The Secretary was interacting with a host of industry representatives including L&T, Ashok Leyland, Bharat Forge, Mahindra Defence Systems, Godrej & Boyce, Tata Motors, Tata Advanced Systems and other leading industrialists, besides several micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Emphasizing on certain key areas of concern in the sector, the Secretary acknowledged the industry needs in simplifying the MAKE processes, in enhancing Indian cyber capability as well as defence production capability, promoting exports, facilitating a level playing field, strengthening the certification system and defining the nature of IP needs for protection of IP rights, and also providing performance based incentives for import substitution.
Jayant Patil, Vice President, SIDM & Whole-time Director (Defence Business) & Member of the Board, Larsen & Toubro, highlighted various industry needs of giving preference to indigenization, simplifying MAKE processes, addressing issues of customs duty, protection of IP rights and availing hassle-free NOC to encourage defence exports.
In response,the Secretary said, he has already initiated the process within his Department to take up more individual as well as collective concerns of the industry and assured to display all support available from Government for the growth and development of industry in the defence production.
The Secretary said, both large industries as well as SMEs can play a big role in realizing the Make in India vision and government will contribute meaningfully towards that. He requested the industry members for sharing their suggestions through the SIDM forum to get more of such feedback, which will help government to understand and attend to the industry needs.
Welcoming the Secretary in the industry interaction forum, Lt Gen Subrata Saha PVSM, UYSM, YSM, VSM** (Retd), Director General, Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) & Principal Adviser, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) highlighted the key role that SIDM is going to play in facilitating some of the successful collaborations under the rubric of Make in India and bringing strategic directions for the industry to make the desired transition from the prescriptive systems.
