Indian delegation looks to enhance ties with US defence firms

Indian industry looks forward to technology and research collaborations as well as joint ventures to commercialize the innovations and matured industrial products The Dollar Business Bureau

There is a need to explore opportunities to move forward B2B engagements with the Tier 1 and 2 of the US and Indian MSMEs, says A Didar Singh, Secretary General, FICCI

A 14-member delegation from Indian defence and aerospace sector is visiting the US during December 6-11 with an aim to enhance the bilateral ties between the two countries. The visit coincides with the Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s official trip to that country. The delegation, led by S N Subrahmanyan, Deputy Managing Director & President, Larsen & Toubro, “will interact with Manohar Parrikar, senior officials of US Department of Defence, strategic think tanks, captains of US Defense & Aerospace companies and American business chambers,” said FICCI (Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry) in a statement. Unlike the traditional method of contact purchasing from US suppliers through Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route, the Indian industry now looks forward to technology collaborations, research and joint ventures to commercialise the innovations and matured industrial products. FMS route is seen as unsustainable for long-term development as it involves a one-time purchase from American defense contractors and does not enhance the technological know-how of Indian partners. In this regard, the transfer of technology (ToT) is imperative for Indian industries to kick-start the much-needed defense industrial base and generate economic spin-offs, FICCI said. “Apart from the current pathways like FMS and Defence Technology Trade Initiative (DTTI), there is a need to explore opportunities to move forward B2B engagements with the Tier 1 and 2 of the US and Indian MSMEs,” said A Didar Singh, Secretary General, FICCI. The delegation is expected to visit the MassChallenge facilities, startup space, and lab—a start-up accelerator that includes startups in the defense/ robotics/ aerospace fields and has partnerships with CASIS/ Boeing/ NASA to fund aerospace innovation. The delegation will also visit US Army Research Laboratory and hold a meeting with officials of the Department of Commerce with Bureau of Industry and Security.

December 07, 2015 | 11:40pm IST

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The Dollar Business Bureau - Dec 07, 2015 06:47 IST

Indian delegation looks to enhance ties with US defence firms

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