Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande visits MSME Defence Expo at Pune

New Delhi: Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande, visited the Maharashtra MSME (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) Defence Expo 2024 at International Exhibition Convention Centre, Moshi, Pune on February 26, 2024.

The expo, organised by the Government of Maharashtra, showcases the indigenous capabilities and innovations of the MSMEs, private companies, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) laboratories, and Defence Public Sector Unit (DPSU) setups in Maharashtra.

General Manoj Pande delivered a keynote address to the MSME & students and said that, Maharashtra deserves a mention, for being one of the major contributors to the nation’s economy, industrial growth, exports and FDI attractiveness. He noted that the State was the first in India to frame a Defence Manufacturing Policy after private investment was allowed in the defence sector. Maharashtra has also declared Aerospace and Defence manufacturing as a thrust sector in the ‘Package Scheme of Incentives’.

As a result of these efforts, the State has been contributing more than 20% to the country’s output in aircrafts, ships and boats and 30% to the national output in weapons and ammunition. These figures reflect a strategic vision towards promoting the Defence Industrial Sector.

The COAS while highlighting the economic growth made by the India, said that the nation is witnessing an improved consumer affluence, better standards of living, higher literacy quotient and rising aspirations of the citizens. He appreciated the steps taken by the Government agencies and armed forces in policy reforms, skilling initiatives, infrastructure investment, digital potential, frontline entrepreneurship and said that this signifies the commitment to sustainable development and the promise of being a reliable supply chain stakeholder.

Four contracts worth Rs 70 Cr have been concluded for procurement of equipment in limited quantity for field exploitation. The iDEX route also follows the Spiral Mode of development of indigenous technology and platforms, since exploitation of limited quantity in field conditions, enables concurrent development of equipment based on user recommendations”, he said.

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