NE NEWS SERVICE
LUCKNOW, FEB 5
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country’s main aim is to develop 25 new products based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in the next five years here on Wednesday.
Inaugurating the biennial DefExpo 2020 in Lucknow, the Prime Minister said that UP will become one of the biggest defence manufacturing hubs in India.
“Our security forces are developing new technologies. Seeing new security challenges, the security forces are developing new technologies. Our aim is to develop 25 products based on artificial intelligence in the next 5 years,” Modi said.
PM Modi pointed out that given the new cyber threats, Indian forces were eyeing on new technology to combat it.
“Misuse of technology, terrorism, cyber threat is challenges facing the world,” he added. “Defence forces eyeing new technology considering new threats; India is not lagging behind,” he said.
`India eyeing defence export of $ 5 billion in next five years’
India is eyeing defence export of $5 billion in the next five years, Modi said. Highlighting the measures taken by the NDA government to boost manufacturing and woo investors to set up a base in the country.
He said a country of the size of India cannot entirely depend on imports and added the number of defence licenses issued in the last five years has risen to 460 from 210 in 2014, the year he first came to power.
India is building several defence equipment like artillery guns, aircraft carriers, submarines, light-combat aircraft, and combat helicopters, he said.
“Our mantra is Make in India, for India, for world. In 2014 the export of defence equipment from India was about Rs. 2,000 crore. In the last two years it has gone up to Rs. 17,000 crore. In the next five years our target is export of $5 billion, which is about Rs. 35,000 crore,” the Prime Minister said.
Lack of proper policy initiative in last several decades made India the biggest importer of defence platforms, he added.
The Prime Minister said the creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff and the Department of Military Affairs will boost the overall defence production.
“We are going to enhance our presence in the outer space in coming years,” he said, adding that the DRDO is putting up effective protection for India’s assets in outer space created by ISRO.
“Our defence preparedness is not aimed at any country as India is a reliable contributor to world peace. It’s our responsibility to ensure security of not only India but countries in the neighbourhood as well,” he said.
He invited foreign defence manufacturers to “come and invest in India”.
Delegates from 70 countries; 170 overseas military manufacturers taking part
India’s biennial exhibition that seeks to showcase the potential of the country to become a global defence manufacturing hub, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said.
He said, delegates from 70 countries and 172 foreign military manufacturers will attend the five-day mega exhibition. As many as 856 Indian defence firms will also showcase their products at the event.
The 11th edition of DefExpo promises to bring new technologies and solutions on a single platform for defence manufacturing firms from India and abroad.
The main theme of the Expo is ‘India: The Emerging Defence Manufacturing Hub’ and the focus will be on ‘Digital Transformation of Defence’
Reflecting on the government’s focus on ‘Make in India’, the DefExpo 2020 would offer an opportunity for the Indian defence industry to showcase its capabilities and promote its export potential.
Ministers from over 40 countries will take part in this edition of DefExpo, making it an important opportunity for countries to further strengthen defence ties with India, Singh has said.
The fifth India-Russia Military Industry Conference will also be held on the sidelines of the DefExpo with over 100 Russian and over 200 Indian industry leaders expected to participate.
