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New Delhi, Apr 20 (ANI): Minister of State for Defence MM Pallam Raju on Wednesday said the government sought a greater role for the private sector in the defence manufacturing sector.

Inaugurating the second National Manufacturing and Innovation Summit here, Raju said: “We want the Private sector to play a more prominent role in the Defence sector. The Indian Defence Industry should blend creative thinking and innovative approaches in producing high quality products.

“The Defence organisations must work towards reducing the long gestation periods and cut down time and cost overruns. The Public sector should shed its reticence in working along with the Private industry and treat them as prospective partners. There is a need for maximum synergy between the various production agencies,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister also pitched for modernization of the armed forces.

“Modernisation is a continuous process and all evolving militaries induct new technologies and weapon platforms to support their roles and missions, as no nation can prevail in a conflict with lower threshold of technology,” Pallam Raju said.

“We are committed to providing our armed forces with the best and state-of-art systems, equipment and weapons. India continues to rely heavily on imports to sustain its military’s needs as the indigenous capabilities in Defence production are not just adequate to meet the Armed Forces’ rising demand for new technologies,” he added.

He further said that the Government of India is aware of the need to indigenise defence production as a key to a long-term solution.

“In addition to the Public sector, it is necessary to leverage technical expertise available in the Private sector towards achieving self-sufficiency in Defence Production. The depth and range of capabilities of the Indian Industry today offers great scope, due to availability of requisite skills and infrastructure for undertaking Defence production and Research & Development,” said Pallam Raju.

“The Private sector in India from being suppliers of raw materials, components and subsystems, have become partners and manufacturers of complete advanced systems. Some of our Private industries have become global players,” he added.

Asserting that the Centre is committed to help the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Defence sector, Pallam Raju said: “The new Defence Procurement Procedure 2011 aims to achieve substantantive self reliance in the Design, Development and Production of equipment, weapon systems and platforms for Defence in as early timeframe as possible.

“The Policy aims to create conditions conducive for the Private Industry to take an active role in this endeavour. It also aims to enhance the Potential of SMEs in Indigenization and to broaden the Defence R&D base in the country,” he added. (ANI)