Maintaining the momentum of India-US defence relations will depend on finding new ways to collaborate

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has urged US firms to set up production facilities in India and collaborate with Indian businesses on technology to build a secure global supply chain.

He was speaking at a conference co-hosted by the US-India Business Council (UIBC) and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) on Thursday as part of the 12th DefExpo in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

The event was organized on the theme "New Frontiers in US-India Defence Cooperation: Next Generation Technology, Innovation & Make in India."

In his address, Singh outlined measures taken by the Indian government to accomplish the goal, such as an increase in the number of procurement categories to promote greater involvement from the Indian industry and lure international businesses to locate manufacturing operations in India.

He added, "We are delighted to work with US, our valued partner, to strengthen our commercial and strategic relationship and to attract US investment for creating a high-technology defence production ecosystem in India. For India, collaboration with US companies would be an important strategic force multiplier, apart from being wealth and job creator."

He underscored the significance of defence exports, describing them as a crucial tenet for the "long-term sustainability of the domestic defence industrial base." He continued by saying that the $5 billion export goal established for 2025 indicates the government's desire for an industry that is "export-oriented manufacturing."

He emphasized that, in addition to making contributions in the areas of business and finance, Indians have played a significant part in the scientific advancement of the US, whether it be in the IT industry, biotechnology, space, or cyber technology.

He emphasized that maintaining the momentum of India-US defense relations will depend on finding new ways to collaborate on projects at the industrial, scientific, and academic levels.