Antony wants to stick to 20% FDI in defence industry

Defence Minister A K Antony today ruled out for now any change in the defence production policy to raise FDI, from existing the 26 per cent to 100 per cent, as suggested by the commerce ministry recently.

"At the moment it (the FDI policy on defence) is 26 per cent. Our Defense Production Policy (DPP) is evolving over the years...But at the moment we feel Indian defence sector is not matured enough...Not ready to absorb more FDI in defence sector. We feel that time is not right to further expand it," Antony told reporters on the sidelines of the Navy Commanders Conference.

Antony said initially, there was 100 per cent monopoly of PSUs in the defence sector, but that policy was changed over the last decade to first allow 100 per cent private participation and later permitting 26 per cent FDI in the defence industry.

But, the 26 per cent FDI policy notwithstanding, the defence ministry would consider allowing more than the prescribed FDI in the sector "on a case-to-case basis," he added.

"Ultimately, forever I can not rule out (higher FDI). On a case-by-case basis, we will allow more FDI in defence sector," he said.

The commerce ministry had recently brought out a discussion paper that called for allowing 100 per cent FDI in the defence sector, a demand forcefully made by foreign players who are eyeing the over $50 billion Indian defence spending expected over the next five years.

"Commerce Ministry has brought out a discussion paper only. The Commerce Minister himself said it is a discussion paper. We can discuss. There is no problem. You should not think there is a clash (between the two ministries)," Antony said.

He said the annual review of the DPP was in progress, and in the next round of DPP amendments, his ministry would give more emphasis on Indianisation to strengthen domestic defence industrial base.

"Not only the PSUs, we will give more space to private sector also. So by combining the resources and capacity of the PSUs and Indian private sector, we want to enhance the capacity of Indian defence sector.

"This year, in the coming edition of the DPP, our priority is to strengthen the Indian defense industry," he added.

To another question on the environment ministry asking for a moratorium on new shipyards along the coast due to ecological considerations, Antony said the priority was modernisation of the Navy and Coast Guard by providing its more ships and vessels to enable it to meet the increasing threats from the seas and the coastal areas.

"Whatever is needed to expand the capacity to provide more ships and vessels to the Navy and the Coast Guard... whatever effort is needed, we will make. We must modernise the Navy at the earliest to enable it to meet the increasing threats from the seas and coastal areas as fast as possible," he added.