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Defence exports set to bag chunk of international market

Defence exports are poised for a big leap forward with the government giving a ''determined push'' to the new move, Defence Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav has said.

''Giving a push to defence exports is one of our important priorities as we feel that defence public sector undertakings have come of age and this is the right time to grab a share in the international market to earn valuable foreign exchange,'' the defence minister admitted in response to a query.

The defence minister said it was high time India entered the global market on this front as the products of Indian defence public sector undertakings were of international quality and much cheaper as compared to those of developed countries.

According to defence ministry sources in New Delhi, exports from defence PSUs were expected to more than double in the next five yeas and touch the figure of Rs 3 billion. Defence exports have been registering a steady though slow growth. From barely Rs 693.5 million in 1995-96, defence exports rose to Rs 1.2634 billion during the last financial year (1996-97).

The minister emphasised that constraints and limitations notwithstanding, the ''defence exports drive'' of the defence ministry would be maintained in top gear. Development of sophisticated equipment like the advance light helicopter and electronic and communication systems was expected to give a fillip to defence exports.

Defence sources said the strategy was that henceforth India would participate in international defence exhibitions in a big way and also organise similar expositions at home in which, besides the defence PSUs, private parties also may be allowed.

It was also pointed out that during 1996-97, 32 ordnance factories secured 9002 certification. Apart from 39 ordnance factories, there are eight defence PSUs in the country -- the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, Bharat Earth Movers Limited, Mazgaon Docks Limited, Gardenreach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited, Goa Shipyard Limited, Bharat Dynamics Limited, and Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited.

For the past few years, the defence ministry has been organising its own defence exhibition at Bangalore. The 'Aero-India '96' show organised by the defence ministry at Bangalore proved to be a great success.

More than 100 companies from 12 foreign countries, and 50 companies from India, which included almost all the renowned names in the aeronautics and aerospace industry, participated in the event.

Third World countries could prove to be a major market for defence exports from India.

UNI