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.
Referring to these things, Prime Minister Shri Narendrabhai Modi said that the then central government did not take any decision on this important subject for 14 years and raised such questions that it took a long time to solve them even after becoming the Prime Minister. Today, Deesa Airbase is fulfilling the expectations of the Indian Air Force. He also congratulated the Air Force for this and said that with this airbase, Banaskantha and Patan will become an important center for the security of the country. Until now Banaskantha and Patan were important centers for solar power, solar energy.
“Space technology is an example of what security will mean for any strong nation in the future. Various challenges in this area have been reviewed and identified by the three services. We have to work fast to solve them.” “Mission Defence Space”, he continued, “will not only encourage innovation and strengthen our forces but also provide new and innovative solutions.” The Prime Minister highlighted that space technology is shaping new definitions of India’s generous space diplomacy, giving rise to new possibilities. “Many African countries and many other small countries are benefiting from this”, he added. The Prime Minister informed that there are more than 60 developing countries with whom India is sharing its space science. “The South Asia satellite is an effective example of this. By next year, ten ASEAN countries will also get real-time access to India’s satellite data. Even developed countries like Europe and America are using our satellite data”, he added.
In the defence sector, the Prime Minister said, new India is moving ahead with the mantra of Intent, Innovation and Implementation. Till 8 years ago, India was recognized as the world’s largest defence importer. But New India showed intent, showed willpower and ‘Make in India’ is becoming a success story in the defence sector today. “Our defence exports have grown 8 times in the last 5 years. We are exporting defence materials and equipment to more than 75 countries of the world. In 2021-22 Defence exports from India reached $1.59 billion i.e. about 13 thousand crore rupees. And in the coming time, we have set a target to reach 5 billion dollars i.e. 40 thousand crore rupees’” he added.
Throwing light on making India’s defence sector self-reliant, the Prime Minister highlighted that the armies have also finalised two lists of equipment which would be procured only within the country. This list of 101 such items is being released today. These decisions also show the potential of a self-reliant India. After the list, there will be 411 such equipment and equipment of the defence sector, which will only be bought under the “Make in India’. The Prime Minister informed that such a huge budget will strengthen the foundation of Indian companies and take them to new heights. He further added that it will be the youth of the nation that will benefit the most from it.
The Prime Minister underlined, “India sees the defence sector as an infinite sky of opportunities, as positive possibilities.” Speaking on investment opportunities in the defence sector, the Prime Minister informed that India is building two defence corridors in UP and Tamil Nadu and many big companies of the world are coming to invest in India. He also highlighted the might of the MSMEs in the sector and informed that these big companies will be supported by our MSMEs while creating a large network of supply chains behind this investment. “Investments of such scale in this sector will generate huge employment opportunities for the youth in those areas which were not even thought of earlier”, the Prime Minister added.
Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh
Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh while welcoming Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi said in Gujarati said that I welcome you to your land of Gujarat. DefExpo2022 was inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi with the theme ‘Path to Pride’ thus it is a matter of pride for we the people of New and self-reliant India. The biggest DefExpo2022 organized in Gujarat will give India a new direction in the defence sector in the next 25 years. Stating that DefExpo is a symbol of strength, national pride, he said, More than 300 Indian companies are participating in this DefExpo out of which more than 80 companies are working in the defence sector alone which is the best example of a self-reliant India.
He said that DefExpo will provide new employment opportunities to the new generation of India along with innovation and research in the defence sector. Moreover it will attract businessmen of the country and the world to invest in the defence sector in India. Apart from this, the central government is also encouraging MSMEs, small entrepreneurs, private companies to invest in the defence sector in India. It is the need of the hour for the youth of India to balance new horizons in research and development in the defence sector as well. He added that bilateral dialogue with 10 African countries is being held for the last two days during the DefExpo, while other countries are also keen on defence manufacturing in India.
The Defence Minister proudly said that national security has been India’s priority under the leadership of the Prime Minister. Along with sky, land, and water, India is also increasing its power in the Aerospace sector. India will now face more new challenges and opportunities in the space sector under the Mission DefSpace. Stating that under the guidance of the Prime Minister, India has emerged as the fifth strongest economy in the world with self-sufficiency in the defence sector, Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh thanked Team Gujarat for the successful organization of DefExpo2022 in Gujarat.
Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel
Stating that the state government is determined to strengthen the multifaceted security of the nation, Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel added that, A Global Forum for India’s Defence Power has been set up in Gujarat. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat made a successful attempt to create a strong defence ecosystem in the state.
Chief Minister said that Prime Minister’s dream is to educate the youth of the state in subjects like counter-terrorism, internal security, cyber warfare, military affairs and artificial intelligence, which has been realized by the state government. The defence sector has taken important initiatives to train the youth. The Prime Minister established Gujarat Forensic Science University and Raksha Shakti University in Gujarat in 2009 to provide timely education opportunity in defence and security management to the youth of the country. Both these universities are now NFSU and RRU.
Chief Minister added that, NFSU is the first and only university in the world dedicated to the science related to forensic behaviour, digital forensics. The Ballistic Research Centre and Test Range and Ballistic Materials or Ballistic Materials Evaluation Centre at NFSU is the first of its kind. All editions of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit organized by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi have encouraged defence companies to have special defence pavilions to showcase their products. Some major defence companies have also taken the opportunity to showcase their defence equipment. Gujarat has a number of MSME industries that supply vital parts to India’s strategic aerospace and defence programmes. Through DefExpo2022 Prime Minister has also given an opportunity to the MSMEs of Gujarat to showcase their capabilities.
The airbase which will be constructed at a cost of 935 crores in Banaskantha Deesa in the border area of the state, will strengthen water, land and air operations in the western border area and the security of economic activity centres like Ahmedabad and Vadodara. Chief Minister added that, Gujarat was the first state in the country to launch a comprehensive aerospace and defence policy in 2016. With prospect to the Prime Minister’s vision for the use of drone technology, the state government has implemented the ‘Drone Promotion and Use Policy’ through ‘The Atmanirbhar Scheme for Assistant to Industries’.
Chief Minister added that, Under the guidance of the visionary Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the state has implemented visionary initiatives and reforms that have resulted in Gujarat being at the forefront of fast-track development over the past 20 years. Gujarat’s manufacturing capacity and strong infrastructure will play an important role in the defence and aerospace sectors.
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.