Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh on Friday, 10 July 2026 shared remarks attributed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Melbourne, Australia, highlighting that Make in India has evolved into a global brand and that Indian defence platforms are winning international trust.

Context

The post, shared via the NaMo App, quotes PM Modi as saying — 'Make in India ab global brand, defence platform jeet rahe vaishvik bharosa' — which translates to: 'Make in India is now a global brand, defence platforms are winning global trust.' The remarks were made during PM Modi's visit to Melbourne, underscoring India's effort to project its manufacturing and defence credentials on an Indo-Pacific stage.

Minister Singh's amplification of the statement reflects the ruling party's consistent messaging around indigenisation and export competitiveness, particularly in the defence sector.

Policy Backdrop

The Make in India initiative was launched in September 2014 to position India as a preferred global manufacturing destination, attracting foreign investment and integrating domestic industry into global value chains. It was reinforced in May 2020 with the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, which introduced specific defence indigenisation lists and export promotion measures.

The government has set a defence exports target of ₹35,000 crore for 2024-25 under the updated Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy. India has steadily moved from being a net importer of defence equipment to an emerging supplier, with public and private sector manufacturers securing orders in multiple international markets.

Stakeholders and Impact

Australia is a key Indo-Pacific partner for India, with growing bilateral ties spanning defence technology sharing, joint production discussions, and trade. PM Modi's Melbourne visit provides a high-visibility platform to showcase Indian defence capabilities to a strategic partner that is itself investing heavily in regional security infrastructure.

Domestic defence manufacturers — including large public sector undertakings and MSMEs in the aerospace and electronics supply chain — stand to benefit if the Melbourne engagement translates into co-development agreements or new export orders. The broader message also signals to global investors that India's manufacturing ecosystem has matured beyond cost arbitrage into technology-intensive sectors.

What's Next

Observers will watch for joint statements or Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) from the Australia visit specifically covering co-development or co-production of defence platforms. The next annual report from the Defence Ministry is expected to detail updated export figures and any new licensing or foreign direct investment reforms that could further accelerate the sector's growth.

PM Modi's framing of Make in India as a 'global brand' in Melbourne suggests the government intends to use high-profile bilateral visits as a sustained vehicle for defence and manufacturing diplomacy well into the second half of the decade.