New Delhi, Jan 12

SIDM in collaboration with UK Defence and Security Exports (UKDSE) and the UK India Business Council (UKIBC), organised the ‘UK – India Round Table on Co-Creating Future Defence Technologies. Rt Hon Ms Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP, Secretary of State for International Trade and President

of the Board of Trade, Government of UK, H.E Mr Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India and Mr SP Shukla, President, SIDM addressed the Indian and UK Industry. The aim of the interaction was to develop defence technologies of the future and explore opportunities to strengthen bilateral defence trade.

Mr SP Shukla, President, SIDM in his opening remarks highlighted that cooperation in the defence sector is an important pillar of India - UK bilateral cooperation that will strengthen in coming years. He further added that the foundation has been laid for enhancing the defence bilateral industrial cooperation both at government and Industrial levels. He shared the SIDM’s MoU with UKIBC will facilitate a closer interaction between the Industries from both sides.

Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP, Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade, Government of UK, emphasised that the Prime Minister of India and the United Kingdom are very keen to have a strengthened defence partnership as part of the ‘Roadmap 2030’. She highlighted that the intent of today’s interaction is to find the right tools to move this relationship forward. The Secretary highlighted the opportunities that a UK-India Free Trade Agreement will present in this regard.

The Round Table Interaction with the UK and Indian Industry was chaired by H.E Mr Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India, where topics like Very Short-Range Air Defence Partnership, Combat Air Partnership, Jet Engine Development and Missile System Collaboration were deliberated upon.

The interaction was attended virtually by key industry members including Mr Jayant D Patil, Whole Time Director, Larsen & Toubro Defence, Mr Ravi Nirgudkar, Managing Director, BAE Systems India, Commodore Siddharth Mishra – CMD, Bharat Dynamics Ltd.