Defence Manufacturing to Get A Major Thrust in Line with Make in India Policy

While speaking at a seminar, Gujarat : Preferred Hub for Defence Production , held on the sidelines of Vibrant Gujarat, in Gandhinagar today, the Union Minister for Defence, Shri Manohar Parrikar said that, a 20 billion dollar import bill for defence was not affordable. Such a huge import bill has undesirable consequences for the economy, development and unemployment in the country. He added that, for strategic reasons too, the country should not be dependent on defence imports. In the light of this background the Minister said that his government hopes to come up with a document in two to three months on a suitable model for defence manufacturing and procurement. Shri Parrikar, also stated that his ministry should soon be in a position to decide which items should be manufactured in India and over a period of time, gradually that list would be increased.