DefExpo 2018 Gets Thumbs Up From Ex-MoS Defence, Calls it 'Positive Evolution of UPA-era Policy'

Chennai, April 16: The DefExpo 2018 is a step forward to make India self-sufficient in the manufacturing of defence equipment. Several agreements have been signed between foreign manufacturers and domestic defence manufactures under the strategic partnership model of ‘Make in India’ campaign.

Former Minister of State (MoS) for Defence M M Pallam Raju stressed on the need to indigenise the defence manufacturing. Speaking to LatestLY, Raju said, "We have a budget which is not endless. The best way we can optimize utilization of the budget is by encouraging the local manufacturing of all the defence platforms." The former Minister of Defence welcomed centre government’s move in this direction but he termed it as the evolution of the offset policy brought by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

Raju told LatestLY,  “It is a drawn out process and it is not easy. The UPA ha brought in the offset policy. The offset policy was to ensure that certain value of any high value purchase gets manufacture out of India. And we also started Emphasising on greater value edition of the offset obligation. And the make in India is the continuation of the offset policy by a new name.” The former MoS Defence talking about shifting the event to Chennai said, “It is important to widen the defence industrial base in the country through higher manufacturing. It is a welcome change because the proximity of the venue help manufacturers, who are suppliers to the defence ecosystem to come and participate in an active manner.”

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) national spokesperson, Krishna Sagar Rao hailed government’s move to indigenise the defence manufacturing industry. Rao talking to LatestLY said, “Today when you look at our government right from the day when we come. This was our first call that we have to indigenise the defence production so that we can meet defence needs. Hardly there were any defence expos during UPA regime. Even If they were there, then also only foreign manufactures used to come and set up their stalls and showcase their products. Today we have 60-65% of Indian Manufactureres in the expo.”

The BJP national spokesperson lambasted UPA government for ignoring the defence needs of the country. Attacking the UPA government Rao said, “The previous regimes actually neglected the self sufficiency of defence needs. They had not promoted the defence competence of Indian Manufactures to compete with the global defence manufacturers especially from west or from the Europe. They were conveniently trying to make good of the competition which does not exist domestically. All the corrupt practices they were indulged in through the third party and through the defence procurers and the mediators were on rampant.” He reiterated government’s commitment to do more to make India a defence manufacturing hub of the world.

The DefExpo 2018 was held from April 11 to April 14 in Chennai. In this expo India showcased its defence manufacturing capabilities to the world. India invited foreign players to invest in India’s defence sector. The government also promoted indigenous industries by providing them platform to compete in the global market. The Prime Minister during an inauguration of the DefExpo 2018 stressed on the need to become self-sufficient in defence manufacturing sector. The Prime Minister said, “Today we live in an interconnected world, therefore the strategic imperative for ‘Make in India’ and ‘Make for India’, and supply to the world from India is stronger than ever.”

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 16, 2018 08:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).