New Delhi, April 23

“Partnerships based on reliability & shared interests are indispensable amid increasing global uncertainties”

“India offers expanding market, skilled workforce & evolving industrial ecosystem with stability, predictability & commitment to the rule of law; It’s not short-term opportunity, but long-term strategic proposition”

“India’s self-reliance pursuit is not inward-looking, we see it as the ability to design, develop & produce with trusted partners”

Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh has invited the German industry to co-develop and co-produce with India, particularly in the field of niche technologies, as he underscored the need to forge partnerships based on reliability & shared interests, terming them as indispensable in the current shifts in geopolitical alignments, disruptions in supply chains, rapid technological transformations, and increasing global uncertainties. Shri Rajnath Singh was addressing  Indian and German Defence Industry leaders during the Defence Investor Summit in Munich on April 23, 2026, the final day of his maiden visit to the European nation.

He pointed out that India recognises the significant role of the defence sector in the journey towards becoming a developed nation, and has placed it at the heart of its industrial & technological strategy. “Defence industrial ecosystem encourages collaboration among industry, academia, and research institutions. This leads to the creation of start-ups, the development of niche technologies, and the strengthening of supply chains. In this sense, a strong defence industrial base contributes not only to national security but also to economic resilience and global competitiveness. We aspire to build a strong, modern, and a self-reliant defence industrial base. It is essential for strategic autonomy, and economic future,” he said.

Rajnath Singh told the German industry captains that the Government of India, over the past decade, has undertaken a series of structural reforms to improve the ease of doing business and make India an attractive destination for investment. “Our policies are transparent, predictable, and investor-friendly. We have liberalised our norms, strengthened our regulatory frameworks, and invested heavily in infrastructure,” he said.

On India’s defence industrial sector, Raksha Mantri said: “As a market, India’s defence requirements are substantial and will continue to grow in the coming decades. As a manufacturing base, we offer cost-effective production, a skilled workforce, and access to a large ecosystem of suppliers. As a hub for innovation, our start-up ecosystem, engineering talent, and digital capabilities create fertile ground for co-development of new technologies. Our start-up ecosystem is among the largest in the world, with vibrant centres in cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune. Initiatives such as Start-Up India, Digital India, and Skill India have created an enabling environment for innovation and entrepreneurship. As a partner in global supply chains, collaboration with India can help diversify risks and build resilience. This is not a short-term opportunity. It is a long-term strategic proposition.”

Rajnath Singh appreciated the deepening of India-Germany defence relations through significant industrial partnerships, with a growing focus on co-development and co-production. “Both nations are aligning their industries to create resilient supply chains for defence equipment, particularly in response to geopolitical shifts,” he said.

 On April 22, 2026, Rajnath Singh visited the TKMS Submarine building facility in Kiel, underscoring the deepening defence engagement between India and Germany. The visit provided an opportunity to exchange views on advanced maritime capabilities and explore avenues for collaboration in naval technologies, in line with India’s defence modernisation priorities.

Earlier, Raksha Mantri held bilateral talks with his German counterpart Mr Boris Pistorius in Berlin, aimed at further strengthening the strategic defence partnership with the European nation. The Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap and Implementing Arrangement for Cooperation in UN Peacekeeping Training were inked and exchanged during the meeting.