The 12th and largest-ever defence exhibition – DefExpo 2022 – has marked the emergence of India’s defence industry as a sunrise sector for investment on the global scale in line with the theme of the expo – ‘Path to Pride’.
Being held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, the five-day event, which commenced on October 18, witnessed unparalleled participation of over 1,340 exhibitors, businesses, investors, start-ups, MSMEs, Armed Forces and delegates from several countries, with engagements spread over four venues.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s leadership enabled the implementation of vision of the DefExpo on ground with smooth conduct of dozens of engagements over three business and two public days and laid firm platform for the entire national defence ecosystem to collaborate and build a self-reliant India.
The overwhelming response of investors and businesses showed that the objective of a defence sector worth USD 22 billion, with exports of Rs 35,000 crore by 2025, will be achieved. The best minds of defence sector came together at over 20 seminars across three business days to brainstorm over wide ranging topics on Defence Research and Development, new technologies for air warfare, Indigenisation of Defence production, promotion of exports and encouraging investments.
Conclusion of 451 MoUs, Transfer of Technology agreements, product launches and orders to domestic businesses, worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore, reflected India’s progress towards achieving ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in Defence and integration between the Armed Forces requirements, R&D and defence production by public and private players.
The prowess of the Indian defence and aerospace manufacturing was evident in the display of aircraft, tanks, arms & ammunition, cutting-edge technologies and weapons systems at the first DefExpo exclusively for domestic companies. The visits of the Prime Minister, the Raksha Mantri and other dignitaries – both local & foreign – to the stalls encouraged the Indian Defence industry.
For the first time, an investor outreach event ‘Invest for Defence’ was organised bringing together businesses and investors. The importance of this historic DefExpo was reinforced when Prime Minister Narendra Modi graced the inaugural ceremony and invited the world to be part of the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ journey.
The Prime Minister made a number of announcements, including the 4th positive indigenisation list; laid the foundation stone of Air Force Station Deesha, just 130 kms from our western border; unveiled the HAL-designed & developed HTT-40 trainer aircraft; launched Mission DefSpace and inaugurated the India and Gujarat Pavilions.
