Defence Secretary Encourages UK Investment in Indian Defence Corridors
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Synopsis
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh during his London visit urged UK investors to consider opportunities in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu's Defence Corridors, highlighting India's evolving military engagements and strategic collaborations with the UK defence industry.
Key Takeaways
- UK firms encouraged to invest in Indian Defence Corridors.
- Focus on tri-service military cooperation.
- Engagement in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
- Potential partnerships with Indian start-ups in defence.
- India aims for Rs 3 lakh crore in defence production by 2029.
New Delhi, April 18 (NationPress) Encouraging investment in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh emphasized on enhancing tri-service military cooperation and fostering collaboration between Indian and UK defence sectors during his recent visit to London, as reported by an official on Friday.
During his two-day engagement in London, which concluded on Thursday, the secretary led a prominent Indian delegation for the yearly bilateral defence talks with the UK. He co-chaired the 24th India-UK Defence Consultative Group meeting alongside David Williams, the Permanent Under Secretary of State for Defence.
The Defence Secretary stated that India is collaborating closely with the UK Ministry of Defence to formulate an Industrial Cooperation Roadmap aimed at guiding future industry interactions.
He invited UK companies to invest in India’s dedicated Defence Corridors located in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, where they can benefit from state-level incentives and a rapidly advancing defence manufacturing ecosystem.
During Singh’s visit, both nations assessed the shifting regional and global geopolitical landscape, reaffirming their mutual commitment to enhancing defence relations.
The dialogues occurred within the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2021 and the Roadmap to 2030, which continues to direct collaboration between the two countries.
The Defence Secretary also engaged with the UK’s National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, with discussions centered on broadening cooperation between the two nations’ defence industries.
While addressing participants at the India-UK Defence Industry Roundtable, hosted by the UK India Business Council, Singh underscored the increasing capabilities of Indian start-ups in critical defence sectors such as naval systems, drones, surveillance, defence space, and aviation.
He urged UK businesses to seek partnerships with these nimble innovators, highlighting their capacity to provide affordable and state-of-the-art solutions.
The Indian delegation’s visit to London is significant in light of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh underscoring the nation’s goal to manufacture defence equipment worth Rs 3 lakh crore by 2029.
Rajnath Singh remarked that India today stands on equal footing with developed nations in crucial areas like missile technology (Agni, BrahMos), submarines (INS Arihant), and aircraft carriers (INS Vikrant).
