New Delhi based industry body PHD Chamber launched an initiative to create India’s first ever defence and homeland security clusters for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in states across India. These defence and homeland security (HLS) clusters are to be designated areas in each state which are to locate SMEs pursuing the burgeoning defence and homeland security sectors.
“PHD Chamber strongly supports the introduction of India’s first ever Defence Production Policy lunched by the Defence Minister, A K Antony, and especially the explicit acknowledgement of SMEs”, said Salil Bhandari, president, PHD Chamber. “Defence SMEs are the grassroots of the Defence industry, and are deemed as critical and essential to the sustainable development of an indigenous defence Industrial base,” he added.
Indian automotive and Indian information technology (IT) sectors are proven examples of SME-led accelerated and sustainable growth. Any policy preference for SMEs in defence extended by the Government of India can only help the accelerated growth of the industry in defence and homeland Security due to the use of dual-use technologies, the Chamber release said.
“PHD Chamber will enhance its work with the Union and state governments to establish defined defence technology-led SME Clusters to encourage co-location of SMEs working in the sector. With intended preference in allotments and highlighting designated areas as defence & homeland security clusters, the Chamber intends to catalyze synergies between companies for advance research & development, manufacturing and systems integration,” the release said.
PHD Chamber will also work with various public sector units (PSUs) and public and private research organizations to establish presence and create synergies in these clusters,” said Bhandari.
With the Ministry of Defence moving ahead with the policy aiming at achieving 70% indigenization and 30% imports in defence acquisitions, the accelerated growth of the domestic industry has become essential, the release said.
Further, with over 45,000 crore underway under the Defence Offset program, there is an enormous opportunity for SMEs to be the primary catalyst for growth in this sector, especially if they collaborate with government defence organizations, the release added.
