Aero India 2023: For Atmanirbhar defence sector, Rajnath Singh calls upon world’s biggest industry leaders to collaborate

To effectively obtain ‘Atmanirbharta’, defence minister Rajnath Singh on Monday held CEOs round table at Aero India 2023, Bengaluru.

Indian & global industry leaders were there to support India’s endeavour to design, develop and manufacture cutting-edge products, using critical technologies, within the country in defence.

“India does not want to remain an assembly workshop; Manufacturing cutting-edge products need of the hour to attain ‘Aatmanirbharta’,” said Singh.

“We’re committed to fully harness energy, spirit & capability of private sector partners,” he added.

Over 70 CEOs of local and global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) attended the round table.

Singh enumerated defence corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu; simplification of industrial licensing processes; hike in cap on FDI in defence; opening of government trial and testing facilities for the private sector; among others.

The theme of the round table was ‘Sky is not the limit: opportunities beyond boundaries’.

The participating companies included Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Israel Aerospace Industries, General Atomics, Liebherr Group, Raytheon Technologies, Safran, General Authority of Military Industries among others.