The private sector has offered to assist the defence ministry in enhancing the country?s industrial capabilities to meet the strategic requirements of the Indian armed forces indigenously.
A high level CII delegation led by Atul Kirloskar, managing director of Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited, met with the defence minister AK Antony on the sidelines of an international seminar and suggested an early announcement of the list of Raksha Udyog Ratnas (RURs)?the system integrators identified by the MoD based on their capabilities-he ministry is yet to publish the list of RURs.
According to the delegates, the Offset Policy announced by the MoD has the potential to make India the global manufacturing hub for the defence and aerospace sector. Hence, the need to optimise utilisation of the offset policy with an objective of strengthening the local defence industrial base is imperative. They told the minister who was accompanied by key officials of the ministry that, ? India needs a confident, pro-active and self-sufficient defence industry to meet domestic and export requirements. And for this to happen, there is a need to ensure the full and wholehearted participation of the private sector in defence production.?