New Delhi, Sept 30

Sanjay Jaju, Additional Secretary (DP), Ministry of Defence, GOI inaugurated HAL-Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) Indigenisation Conclave on ‘Make in India for Defence and Aerospace’ held in hybrid mode at HAL Management Academy campus in Bengaluru today.  Around 60 items to be indigenized were kept on display at the venue.

In his keynote address, Jaju called up the industries to blend indigenisation activities with innovative means to get the strategic edge and emerge as market leaders.  “Defence Unicorns should be our target and it is possible to achieve this through renewed energy and self-belief. Ideas will not face dearth of funds”, he added. 

C. B. Ananthakrishnan, CMD HAL said the Company is collaborating with different stake-holders, including the private industries to indigenise to a maximum extent and is focusing on design stage indigenisation as well. “We have allotted 3% of our PAT to set up an indigenisation fund. Of the 1,000 items listed for indigenization in the Srijan Portal, 405 items will be indigenized by HAL”, he added.

Apart from HAL, the organisations such as CEMILAC, DGAQA, CII and other stakeholders participated in the conclave and deliberated at length on new opportunities and challenges and on how to strengthen self-reliance in aerospace and defence.