【Mumbai】Indian defence companies have cause to cheer with Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserting on Saturday that the country would be encouraging local companies in sectoral production, and that India should be exporting defence equipment.
Experts say even if the government gives part of its estimated purchase orders worth $247 billion in the next three years to Indian companies, it will change the dynamics of these firms.
"National security is on top of the Modi government's priority list and manufacturing military hardware in India, with a liberalised FDI (foreign direct investment) regime, in this vital sector will make India self-reliant and it will become a global production hub," says Nikhil Gandhi, chairman of Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering Company Limited, which builds ships for the navy and coast guard.
○PM dedicates INS Vikramaditya to the nation
【Goa】Prime Minister Narendra Modi today dedicated India’s largest warship INS Vikramaditya to the nation and pitched for making the country self-reliant in manufacturing defence equipment, thereby shedding dependence on imports.
In his first outing after taking charge as Prime Minister, he addressed the naval personnel onboard the ship off the Goa coast, calling the addition of the warship to the force as a “historic” step. “It is an important day for our nation. It is a golden day in Indian Navy’s history. For me, it is a matter of pride and happiness that INS Vikramaditya is joining the Navy. It is a historic step,” he said.
○64 foreigners among 636 new army officers
【Dehradun】Sixty-four cadets among 636 Gentleman Cadets (GCs) crossing the portals of the Chetwode building on Saturday were foreigners.
The number of officers who have passed out of the Indian Military Academy (IMA) since its inauguration in 1932 reached 54,824 including 1,678 Foreign Gentleman Cadets. Among this year’s FGCs, 50 were from Afghanistan and the rest from Tajikistan, Bhutan, Lesotho, Papua New Guinea and Ethiopia.
【News source】
Modi booster for Indian defence companies
PM dedicates INS Vikramaditya to the nation
64 foreigners among 636 new army officers
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