Indian Defence Exports Rank Among The Top 25 Countries: Rajnath

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh noted that India is among the top 25 exporters of defence goods, with defence exports reaching Rs 8,000 crore in the first half of 2022–2023. He added that in order for the world to believe us, “we will have to first trust our products.”

Singh stated, “India, which used to be regarded the greatest importer, is presently in line among the top 25 countries selling defence items,” during the opening ceremony of DefExpo 2022 in Gandhinagar on Monday.

The subject of DefExpo 2022, which will take place in Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, and Porbandar from October 18 to 22, is “Path to Pride.” Path to Pride is a “vision of New India,” he remarked, not just a theme.

“We must first trust our products if we want the rest of the world to do the same. Speaking of the purpose of the exhibition, which will include items from 1,340 Indian-based businesses, he said, “The path to pride is part of this continual process to acquire this trust. 33 national defence ministers will also be present.

There will be 451 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) inked during the expo, of which 33, totaling Rs 5,500 crore, are for projects in Gujarat. A total of 201 MoUs were inked during the most recent DefExpo in Lucknow.

Speaking about Indian defence exports, Singh stated, “Prior to 2014, there were defence exports totaling roughly Rs 900-1,300 crore. Currently, we export goods worth more than Rs 13,000 crore, and in the first half of the current fiscal year, we exported goods worth Rs 8,000 crore. Our goal is to reach Rs 35,000 crore by 2024–2025.

Additionally, Singh met privately with the defence ministers of six African nations. Singh, who had bilateral meetings on October 18 and 19, stated, “I have already ended bilateral meetings with three defence ministers and I will be meeting three more later today.”

On October 18 and October 19, respectively, Singh will preside over the “IOR+ Defence Ministers Conclave,” which is anticipated to be a private gathering, and the “2nd India-Africa defence discussion.” On October 19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will formally launch the occasion.

“India and Africa have traditionally been strong friends and partners,” said Ajay Kumar, the defence secretary. We are currently examining the potential for defence collaboration. Through our defence businesses, we are assisting the African nations by enhancing their capacities and collaborating with them to combat narcotics trafficking, piracy, and obstacles along the coast.

DefExpo is partnering with this event for the first time, according to Kumar, who was speaking about “Invest for Defense,” which is slated for October 20. PM Modi is anticipated to practically set the cornerstone for a new Indian Air Force installation at Deesa in North Gujarat during the occasion. HAL will also display the HTT40, an indigenously manufactured trainer aircraft, during the event.

At Gandhinagar earlier in the day, Rajnath Singh published the Gujarati version of the book “Modi@20:Dreams Meet Delivery.” Bhupendra Patel, the chief minister, and Dr. L. Murugan, the union minister of state for information and broadcasting, fisheries, animal husbandry, and dairy, were present at the event at the hotel.

According to Singh, who was mentioned in a government press release, “Modi is only the second leader after Mahatma Gandhi who has known the pulse of our nation while speaking directly with the people of the country.”