Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd made its presence in Kerala with the opening of its unit in Kasaragod district on Saturday.

Inaugurating the strategic electronics factory of HAL at Seethangoli in Kasaragod district of Kerala on Saturday, Defence Minister A. K Antony, said that work on the second phase of strategic electronics factory will begin soon.

He said that officials have been told to speed up the work on second phase. It will help in the production of avionics systems for Sukhoi and Jaguar aircraft.

Stating that Kasaragod is suited for industrial development, he said the Ministry wants to develop Seethangoli unit as important aerospace centre.

Inaugurating the production facilities of the factory, Oommen Chandy, Kerala Chief Minister, said the development of Kasaragod is given importance by his Government.

P.K. Kunhalikutty, Kerala Industries Minister, said that KINFRA industrial park at Seethangoli came up in 2006. He said there should be continuity and consensus in development works.

R.K. Tyagi, Chairman of HAL, said that HAL has made Kerala its new home with the establishment of a factory in Kasaragod.

R.K. Mathur, Secretary (Defence Production), said the country is working towards meeting 70 per cent of Defence needs indigenously. There is a need to enhance technological facilities in this direction. For this, a large number of new technological platforms are required. HAL’s factory in Kerala is an important step in this regard.

He said the second stage expansion of the factory in Kerala will depend on the needs projected by IAF.

> vinayak.aj@thehindu.co.in

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