‘UP to have major share in defence production’

Union minister of state for defence Subhash Ramrao Bhamre stated on Wednesday that Uttar Pradesh would have a major share in the country’s defence production and will transform India from an importer of arms to an exporter.

Bhamre was in Lucknow to attend ‘Industry Interaction: Defence Corridor in Uttar Pradesh’ organised by the Indian Industries Association (IIA).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the defence corridor in Uttar Pradesh at investors’ summit in February last.

“The defence corridor in Uttar Pradesh will be the biggest and will play a major role in the country defence manufacturing sector,” Bhamre told newsmen.

“This project will change the industrial scenario in UP and will transform India from one of the biggest importers of arms to an exporter,” asserted Bhamre. At present, India is one of the biggest importers of arms in the world.

The union minister also informed that foreign companies were also willing to invest in the defence corridor. “Strategic partnership with foreign companies will be on the basis of transfer of technology,” pointed out the defence minister.

Commenting on job opportunities likely to be generated by the corridor, the union minister pointed out that around 2.5 lakh jobs would be generated.

Around 3000 hectares of land would be acquired for the project, added Bhamre.

Earlier, Bhamre addressed the gathering of industrialists, mostly MSMEs, willing to invest in the corridor.

Also present on the occasion, Satish Mahana, industrial development minister, UP government, said: “The UP government will extend all out support to those willing to invest in the defence corridor.”

Infrastructure and Industrial Development Commissioner (IIDC) Anup Chandra Pandey said: “There will be single window clearances to defence and aerospace manufacturing units.”

Awanish Awasthi, CEO, Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority, Lt Gen Subrata Saha(Retd), secretary and director general, society of Indian Defence Manufacturers, Rajib Kumar Sen, economic adviser, department of defence production and others were also present.