GUWAHATI: For the first time in the Northeast, a defence technology exhibition which will showcase the latest weapons, vehicles and other equipment, will be held in Assam's capital and largest city Guwahati.
The city is gearing up to host the event, which is expected to garner tremendous public interest and participation, in October.
Assam Industries and Commerce Minister Bimal Borah said here on Friday that a meeting to review the preparations for the event was held between the state government and top Army officials.
Borah took to X, previously known as Twitter, to say, "Held a meeting along with GoC-in-C, Eastern Command Lt. Commander R Kalita to review the proposed defence expo Defence East Tech 2023 scheduled to be held for the first time in the North East on the 10th & 11th of October 2023 at Maniram Dewan Trade Center, Guwahati.”
The state Industries and Commerce Minister also informed that this will be the first-ever defence technology exhibition in the Northeast showcasing cutting-edge weapons, latest defense vehicles, as well as hardware and tech solutions ranging from assault rifles to military drones, which are all made in India, either indigenously or in collaboration with foreign companies.
Over 200 indigenous manufacturers, startups and MSMEs are expected to participate in the expo.
"This programme aligns with Hon'ble PM Adarniya Shri @narendramodi Ji's #AatmaNirbhar Campaign realising the vision of a 'Self-Reliant India' and aims to promote and strengthen India's domestic industries, especially in critical sectors like defence," Borah said, singing his paean to the PM.
Along with the exhibition for the information of the public, the defence expo is also expected to generate a ripple effect, which is expected to take forward the industrial development of the sector in the state and provide an to bring in investment opportunities and create jobs, the minister added.
India has made good progress in manufacture of defence items and the country’s defence exports for 2022-23 has clocked an all- time high of around Rs 16,000 crore. This is calculated to be an over 10 times increase since 2016-17, when the defence exports were standing at Rs 1,521 crore. To cap it all, India has set itself an ambitious defence exports target of Rs 35,000 crore by 2024-25.
Ministry of Defence sources said, India exports major platforms like Akash missile, BrahMos, Pinaka, Dornier-228, thermal imagers, 155 mm Advanced Towed Artillery Guns (ATAGs), radars, simulators, body armours, mine protected vehicles etc. Many countries are also displaying a growing interest and demand for indigenous platforms like the Light Combat Helicopters, Aircraft carrier and the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.
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