Reliance Defence seeks licence for equipment mfg in SEZs

Reliance Defence has sought the Commerce Ministry's approval to manufacture defence equipment at its special economic zones (SEZs) in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
"The proposals of Reliance Defence Ltd for grant of industrial licences for manufacturing of defence products...Is placed before the BoA for a decision," the Commerce Ministry said in a note.
An inter-ministerial Board of Approval (BoA), chaired by Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia, will consider these requests on April 28.
Different arms of the Reliance Defence Ltd, including Reliance SED Ltd and Reliance Land Systems, have sought industrial licences to manufacture different items like amphibious vehicles for military use, all types of ammunition and fuses, small arms, heavy weapons and electronic warfare systems.

Its two SEZ units are in Pithampur, Dhar (Madhya Pradesh) and Mihan, Nagpur (Maharashtra).
In its comments, the Department of Defence Production has recommended these proposals, subject to standard terms and conditions of licensing and the extant FDI policy guidelines applicable to the defence sector.
Maharashtra government has also recommended the proposals but has put conditions like 80 per cent of recruitment to be done locally, the agenda note said.