INDIA'S DEFENSE MINISTER FLAGS OFF 51ST K9 VAJRA-T GUN FROM L&T ARMORED SYSTEM COMPLEX
HAZIRA, Gujarat, India -- Indian defense minister Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh flagged off the 51st K9 VAJRA-T Gun from Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Armoured System Complex at Hazira in Gujarat Jan. 16. Addressing a gathering on the occasion, Raksha Mantri called for active participation of the private sector in defense manufacturing, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to make India an arms manufacturing hub and net defense exporter. While Shri Rajnath Singh acknowledged the increasing participation of the private industry in defense production, he stressed that a lot still needs to be done to make India a global defense manufacturing hub.
"Our Government is open to new ideas and is determined to use the energy, entrepreneurship spirit and enterprise of the private industry in the defense sector," Raksha Mantri said. He assured that the Government will make all efforts to remove any roadblocks and work together to achieve the goal of indigenization and self-reliance in defense sector.
Shri Rajnath Singh also listed out various far reaching reforms introduced by the Government under the ‘Make in India’ initiative to achieve $26 billion defense industry by 2025 and provide employment to 2-3 million people. "We wish to create an ecosystem that provides a platform to both public sector and private sector to work together and contribute to nation building through their strengths and experiences," he added.
Some of the reforms highlighted by Raksha Mantri include setting up of Defense corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu; simplification of industry licensing process; increase in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) cap; steps to promote defense exports; streamlining of Defense offsets policy; establishing Defense Investor Cell; providing Government-owned trial and testing facility to the private sector and schemes for startups and small & medium enterprises to promote innovation. He also mentioned that the Strategic Partnership (SP) model has been introduced in the Defense Production Policy under which private sector will be able to manufacture fighter aircraft, helicopters, submarines and armored vehicles and emerge as global giants. Shri Rajnath Singh commended L&T for ensuring their participation under the SP model.
Raksha Mantri expressed satisfaction on his visit to the Armored System Complex, saying that the facility is a strong example of ‘Naye Bharat ki Nayi Soch’. He added that the goal of modernization and indigenization in defense under 'Make in India', conceptualized by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has started to take shape. Shri Rajnath Singh termed K9 VAJRA-T Gun as the best example of ‘Make in India’ in Defense. "I have been told that more than 75 per cent of K9 Vajra has been manufactured in India. Over 5,000 people have got direct employment and more than 12,500 indirect employment through this complex. It is a matter of great pride," he said. Raksha Mantri congratulated L&T for delivering 51 of the 100 orders it received for K9 Vajra ahead of schedule.
L&T Defence is currently executing the ‘K9 VAJRA-T’ Tracked, Self-Propelled Howitzer Guns program - the contract awarded to the company by Ministry of Defence through global competitive bidding.
L&T Group Chairman Shri AM Nail and officials of L&T and Ministry of Defense were present on the occasion.
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