Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated Defence Expo-2022 today at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar in the presence of Governor Shri Acharya Devvrat, Union Defense Minister Shri Rajnath Singh and Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel. Chiefs of all three wings of the Indian Army and representatives of various countries and manufacturers associated with the defense sector were present in the grand ceremony held at the Mahatma Mandir.
Describing the Defence Expo as a grand picture of the new India PM said that Companies, scientists and the power of youth are introducing the power of India to the whole world from this land of Iron Man Sardar Patel. He appealed to all the companies that came to Gujarat to participate in the Defense Expo and said, realize our dream of a strong and developed India, I am with you.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi welcomed the guests who came to participate in the Defence Expo-2022, he described Defense Expo-2022 as an opportunity for nation development, cooperation of states, youth power, youth dreams, youth determination, youth entrepreneurship and youth empowerment. The world has high hopes for the Defense Expo. There are also many opportunities for cooperation for friendly countries. Defense expo has been organized in India before, but this organization held in Gujarat is unprecedented. This is the first expo where only Indian companies are participating. Made in India defense equipment is on display here.
More than 1300 exhibitors, more than 100 startups and MSMEs are participating in this expo. Today the whole country and other countries of the world are simultaneously seeing the glimpse of India’s potential. More than 450 MoUs and Agreements will be signed during Defense Expo-2022. Defence expo-2022 was planned a little earlier but got delayed due to some situations in the world but now a new future has started strongly in the country.
Noting the positive response from various countries, the Prime Minister expressed happiness that when India is giving shape to its dreams, 53 friendly countries from Africa are walking with us. The second India-Africa Defence Dialogue will also take place on this occasion, the Prime Minister informed. “This relationship between India and Africa is based on time-tested trust that is further deepening and touching new dimensions with the passing of time”, the Prime Minister added. Dwelling upon the old ties between Africa and Gujarat, the Prime Minister recalled that the first railway lines in Africa had the participation of people from Kutch. Many words used in daily life in Africa have their origin in the Gujarati community in Africa. “Even for a global leader like Mahatma Gandhi, if Gujarat was his birthplace, then Africa was his first ‘Karmbhoomi’. This affinity for Africa is still central to India’s foreign policy. During the Corona period, when the whole world was worried about the vaccine, India delivered the vaccine giving priority to our friendly countries in Africa”, he said.
Today, due to globalization, the world has increased expectations from India, at the same time, the world also believes that India will succeed in every endeavor. India will not fall back. This Defense Expo is also a symbol of global trust in a way. Welcoming the representatives of the nation participating in the Defense Expo, he congratulated the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Bhupendra Patel and his team for the grand organization of this Expo. He said that Gujarat has created its own special identity from development to industrial strength in the country and the world. The defense expo has boosted Gujarat’s identity in the field of defense production, giving new heights to Gujarat’s development. Gujarat will become an important manufacturing center in the field of defence. I am confident that Gujarat’s contribution in this field will increase.
The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of the Deesa airfield in Gujarat said that the forward airforce base will add to the security architecture of the country. Noting Deesa’s proximity with the border, the Prime Minister said that now India is better prepared to respond to any misadventure on the western borders. “After coming to the government, we decided to set up an operational base in Deesa, and this expectation of our forces is being fulfilled today. This region will now become an effective centre of security of the country”, Shri Modi added.
The Disa Airbase, which takes shape just 130 km from the international border, will enable the Indian Air Force to better respond to any misadventure on the country’s western border. Congratulating them in Gujarati language, he said, I congratulate you all from Gandhinagar. He said that the land for Deesa Airfield was allotted when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat
The Chief Minister thanked the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister for giving Gujarat an opportunity to host the prestigious 12th edition of DefExpo and called upon the entrepreneurs to participate in the development tale of India and Gujarat through this DefExpo. On the occasion other initiatives which were launched by the Prime Minister, includes the groundbreaking ceremony of the 52nd Airbase at Deesa in Banaskantha and also launched Mission Defspace.
On this occasion, the Speaker of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly Dr. Nima Acharya, Members of the State Cabinet, Chief of Defence Staff Shri Anil Chauhan, Defence Secretary Dr. Ajay Kumar, Air Chief Marshal Shri Vivek Ram Chaudhary, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Shri R. H. Kumar, Chief of Army Staff General Shri Manoj Pandey, Chief Secretary of the State Shri Pankaj Kumar, other officials of the Ministry of Defence and other senior officers were present.