Technology & R&D is set to transform India towards becoming the leader in global defence & aerospace supply landscape
Rajnath Singh at the CII Annual Session 2023
Emphasizing on the role of R&D and Technology in the development of defence as well as other industrial sectors, Shri Rajnath Singh, Hon’ble Minister of Defence said “technology today is changing at a fast pace and India needs to assume technology leadership in several areas including Defence, Health, Education and Agriculture. Towards the same we need to focus on two dimensions of development that are technology innovation and technology imitation”. He further said that “new avenues are opening up every day and India has the opportunity to be a leader in areas like artificial intelligence, Quantum computing, genetics etc”.
He urged industry to come forward in the areas of R&D and increase the capacity of inhouse research. Hon’ble Minister said “the Government is focussing on ease of doing business and ease of living during last few years. The Government is also focussing on making the population healthy and skilled which will enhance productivity of the workforce employed. These initiatives will be helpful in changing the narrative of India from wealth consuming entity to wealth creating entity”.
Mr Baba Kalyani, Chairman, CII National Committee on Defence & Chairman, Bharat Forge Limited in his welcome remarks highlighted 9 extraordinary measures by Government of India ‘Navastras’ that have redefined Indian Defence Industrial Landscape. These included – (i) Make in India that has now transformed itself into Made in India for the rest of the world, (ii) Consultative and collaborative approach of the Government with the private sector, (iii) Promulgation of Defence Procurement Policies 2016 followed by Defence Acquisition Procedure in 2020, (iv) Launch of the IDEXX challenges to foster innovation and entrepreneurship, (v) Instituting the Export Promotion Cell to promote Made in India Products and Platforms to the world market, (vi) Target driven approach of 25 billion dollar per annum defence production and 5 billion dollar defence export, (vii) reforms in DRDO for collaboration with industry towards laying the foundation of a vibrant defence and aerospace production system, (viii) seamless interaction between users -Army, Navy and Airforce – the DRDO & the Indian industry through design bureaus across the three services, (ix) structural and rapid action oriented measures undertaken under 'AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan'.
CII’s Annual Session, held on 24–25 May 2023, brought together eminent leaders, strategic thinkers, leading economists, young icons from various fields and captains of industry to capture their perspectives across nine major tracks and saw participation of almost 2,500 delegates.
25 May 2023
New Delhi