Minister Bhatt updates Lok Sabha on defence industry
Innovations for Defence Excellence, Defence Innovation Organisation (iDEX-DIO), has shared Memorandum of Intent (MoI) with the United States of America (USA), the United Kingdom (UK), Australia and Sweden to increase cooperation on Defence innovation and take steps to enable deeper collaboration in the areas of innovation, science and technology ecosystems.
This update was given by Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt in a written reply in Lok Sabha 16 Dec 2022.
He also listed exports and imports of defence equipment over the last three years.
The exports included Coastal Surveillance System, Light Weight Torpedo, DO-228 Aircraft, Aircraft Towing Tractor, Weapon Locating Radar and Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) ‘SCGS Zoroaster’, he said.
The major Import included Jammer, Radar, Doppler Radar, Airport Surveillance Radars (ASR) and Ground Support Missile Test Equipment.
He also listed out initiatives taken by the Government to facilitate marketing of indigenously-developed defence equipment to international players:
· The export of items specified in Category 6 (Munitions List) is governed by the extant Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) issued by the Ministry of Defence. The SOP has been streamlined and simplified from time to time for promotion of defence export and ease of doing business.
· An end-to-end portal – www.defenceexim.gov.in – has been developed for receipt & processing of applications for grant of Export Authorisation. Export Authorisations are digitally signed and issued through the portal.
· Ministry of Defence has brought in three OGELs (Open General Export License); one for the select parts and components; another for intra-company transfer of technology and third for major platforms.
· An Export Promotion Cell has been established in Ministry of Defence to co-ordinate and follow-up on export related action including enquiries received from various countries and facilitate private sector and public sector companies for export promotion.
· Defence Attachés have been mandated for export promotion of Indigenous defence products of both public and private sector. For export promotion of indigenously manufactured equipment, a scheme is in place wherein Defence Attachés are provided financial support as per their annual requirement to promote export of indigenous defence equipment.
· Subject to strategic considerations, domestically manufactured defence products are being promoted through Lines of Credit/Funding.
· Export leads received from various stakeholders are disseminated to the registered Indian Defence Exporters through online portal. This facility helps the Indian defence exporters to quickly respond to export opportunities arising in other countries.
· Two export booklets i.e. ‘Indian Defence Industry, a Global reach’ and ‘Catalogue Indian Defence Industry 2022’ for promotion of Indigenous Defence products from both Public and Private sector have been released during the month of March 2022.
· In order to boost defence exports, webinars are organised with Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs) under the aegis of DDP, MoD through Industry Associations. Total 33 such webinars have been organised so far.
· A mechanism on ‘Enabling Foreign Delegations (both from Government and Services) visiting India to meet Defence Exporters’ has been set up to understand the capabilities of Indian defence industry and to explore potential areas of their interest.
The value of indigenous defence production for Financial Years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 are Rs.84,643 crore and Rs.94,846 crore, respectively.
He also pointed out that 105 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed with industries and organisations worth potential investments of Rs.12,139 crore in UP Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC).
Already, Rs.2,422 crore have been invested in UPDIC as per the information received from Government of Uttar Pradesh.
A total 1,608 hectare of land has been acquired for development of UPDIC.
Further, arrangements have been made through MoUs etc. for potential investment of Rs.11,794 crore by 53 industries in Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor (TNDIC).
Already, Rs.3,847 crore have been invested in TNDIC.
A total 910 hectare of land has been acquired for development of TNDIC, as per the information received from Government of Tamil Nadu for TNDIC. fiinews.com
