Be Champion Defence Industry, says Dr Kumar
Indian industry has been urged to identify international model defence projects and the necessary policy amendments for replication in India.
Making the call, Defence Production Secretary, Dr Ajay Kumar, 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.
Emphasizing on certain key areas of concern in the sector, he 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.
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). It was facilitated by Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) at the Confederation of Indian Industry on 18 Dec 2017.
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, Kumar 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.
He 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.
SIDM is a not-for-profit association formed to be the apex body of the Indian defence industry. SIDM plays a proactive role as an advocate, catalyst and facilitator for the growth and capability building of the defence industry in India.
SIDM aims 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. fii-news.com
