Heappey sees IP co-developments
Defence Procurement Minister James Heappey has urged British companies to actively explore investment opportunities in the two defence corridors being established in the Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu states.
“There are so many opportunities for our industries to come together,” Heappey said at the DefExpo 2020 held in Lucknow 5-8 Feb 2020, referring to the corridors being set up as a larger part of scaling the Indian defence industry.
He also assured the UK Government’s support by setting up “UK Skill Development” programmes in India, supported by world class higher education system in Britain.
The UK has some of the most innovative defence and security technologies, he told delegates at the signing of MoU by UK India Business Council (UKIBC) and Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) at the DefExpo, attended by over 1,000 companies including 170 international corporations.
“We cannot hope to be successful without collaborative defence relationships such as the strong partnerships and military inter-operability that exist between the UK and India,” said the Minister, looking forward to building further on the traditionally long-historical ties with India.
He reconfirmed commitment under the defence equipment MoU, signed in April 2019, stressing that it is crafted to enable co-development of IPs between the two countries.
“Ultimately, the MoU is to encourage export of technologies created between our two countries and promote innovation culture.”
On the UKIBC-SIDM MoU signed at DefExpo 2020, he said it will help the two countries to develop closer and mutually beneficial relationships both in the short-term and longer term with regard to co-developing future technologies.
“It will also provide framework for engagement of future strategic programmes which are essential for all of us.
“With our hard-earned experience and cutting-edge expertise as well as the impressive capability of the Indian industry, it is clear that UK and India have much to gain from each other,” stressed the Minister.
The MoU will boost India’s efforts to become a world class defence exporter.
Future technologies are going to be delivered only by partnerships on key projects such as next generation of aircraft carriers, fully integrated electric propulsion systems and future combat air strategy, army modernization as well as cybersecurity, he pointed out.
Both nations will benefit from shared investments in the defence and security industry.
“In fact, we have been doing it for decades with BAE systems and HAL being natural business partners in India,” said Heappey.
Others such as Rolls Royce have joined the growing list of UK-based companies participating in the Indian defence industry development, he pointed out. fiinews.com
