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From those engaged in assembling gym equipment to manufacturers of shoes and into tailoring services, the entire community of service providers seem to have evinced interest in supplying to the Defence sector.
“We have been receiving mails from unexpected quarters, with tailors wanting to know how they can render their services to the Defence sector, shoe manufacturers trying to understand the requirements of the sector and so on. The mood is upbeat and the momentum seems to be picking up,” said V Sundaram, President, Codissia.
Sundaram said the Defence Ministry would hold a Defence Indigenisation Expo on March 5 and 6 at the Codissia Trade Fair Complex here. It is the first of its kind expo in the region, he said.
The Codissia President recalled Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s announcement of a grant of ₹20 crore to the industry body for setting up a Defence Innovation Centre at Coimbatore.
The office-bearers have since visited few DPSUs (Defence Public Sector Undertakings) such as Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML). Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), Heavy Vehicles Factory at Avadi to understand their requirements and identify the capabilities of the MSMEs of the region. Sundaram said Codissia is not concentrating only on its members but the entire community of entrepreneurs in the region, including large corporates.
“We have to identify vendors. The region has emerged as a major supplier of automotive components. With the automobile industry heading for a major revamp with the shift to electric vehicles, a large number of MSMEs here could turn sick if they do not shift to new areas such as defence supplies. Codissia will act as a catalyst in helping units look at conventional machining process rather than on automation. It is not enough to adopt Industry 4.0 when it comes to defence supplies,” he added.
Participants
About 8 DPSUs including HAL, BEML, BEL, Goa Shipyard, Mazagon Dock Ordinance Factory Board, DRDO and three Services – army, navy and air force – will take part in the expo.
On the second day of the expo, DPSUs are scheduled to make a presentation to help the units understand their requirement. This will be followed by a presentation by the Ministry of Defence on the Make II policy of the government.
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