Chennai to host defence & technology expo – Times of India

CHENNAI: Union minister of state for defence Ajay Bhatt will inaugurate a three-day ‘Defence & Technology Expo Empowering MSME’, the first defence-related expo organised by the private sector, at Chennai Trade Centre on May 26.
Organised by Swatantra Foundation, a Chennai-based think tank, along with Tidco & Lagu Udyog Bharati, the event aims at connecting MSMEs to defence manufacturers for indegenisation of defence components and will have an exhibition, day-long seminars and pre-booked B2B interactions.
Key participants include HAL, BEML, Bharat Dynamics, Heavy Vehicles Factory, Engine Factory, Ordnance Factory Medak, Indian Navy indigenisation, Indian Navy procurement, Indian Air force BRDs, Indian Air force indigenisation, Indian Air Force Procurement, ISRO, DRDO, Dassault Systemes, Super Auto Forge, Munition India Group, Advanced Weapons Group, Bharat Forge and others.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh will be the chief guest for the valedictory function on May 28.
S Ramasubramanian, founder & president of Swatantra Foundation, said, “There will be more than 250 stalls by MSMEs and more than 50 stalls by defence PSUs and large corporates. We expect around 4,000 B2B visitors to attend the expo.”
S Seetharaman, chairman of the steering committee of the event, said, “This is the first private sector held defence expo with the aim of accelerating the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision through indigenisation of components for defence equipment. The event will be a great platform for MSMEs to showcase their capabilities and for large Defence PSUs and Corporates to display their indigenisation requirements.”
R Hariharan, national vice-president, Lagu Udyog Bharati, said “The Government of India has announced several defence equipment components for indigenisation in the recent months, which augurs well for the MSMEs to enter the defence production sector as suppliers to large corporates and defence PSUs. Large off-set requirement obligations on foreign defence manufacturers for recent defence imports also opens up the sector for private players significantly.”
The event is meant for only business visitors and is not open for the general public. Business visitors can register at https://defenceexpotn.in/visitor-schedule/ and can also walk in with a valid business card and ID proof to spot register at the venue, said a press release.