India and the UK agrees to deepen ties in defence sector

 

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited British companies for investing in the critical sector, and both the countries have agreed to deepen the bilateral defense ties, especially in manufacturing.  

 

 

While discussing the issue with visiting UK Prime Minister Theresa May, Modi stated that he encourages British companies to look at the multiple opportunities in the Indian defence sector.

 

 

Modi said, "Looking beyond trade in defence equipment, I invite them to build partnerships with Indian enterprises that focus on manufacturing, technology transfer and co-development," 

 

 

A joint statement also states that the two Prime Ministers recognised the potential for cooperation in defence manufacturing between UK and Indian companies in the 'Make in
India' framework and agreed to encourage and facilitate such cooperation.

 

 

The UK will continue their engagement with the Indian MOD and Indian defence companies to simplify and expedite export controls and to support the transfer of technology to enable projects in areas of mutual interest, it said.

 

 

The two leaders also tasked the Defence Consultative Group (DCG) on November 15-16 to advance the bilateral defence cooperation agenda, including the UK's proposals for capability partnerships, through a range of activities including military to military cooperation, training, exchange of subject matter experts, research and technology linkages as well as defence manufacturing.

 

 

"Noting that ongoing cooperation between HAL and BAE Systems in manufacturing Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers in India as an example of partnership in defence manufacturing, the Prime Ministers agreed to apply innovative approaches to jointly promote products and services into international markets," the statement disclosed.