Govt open to private participation in defence productions

New Delhi, July 10 (UNI) Ministry of Defence is interested in private companies to enhance its capabilities in producing indigenous state-of-the-art equipment, Defence Productions Secretary, K P Singh said today.

The Government of India has a ''very open mind'' for private players to come up with new ventures in the Defence sector, and synergise their competence in developing world-class technology, he said, at the agreement signing ceremony of the Samtel-HAL joint venture.

Gone are the days when the Defence of the country was considered restricted to the state only, today the government is more open about private players participating in this field, he asserted.

India imports security equipment from other countries to meet its requirements, and wants to reduce the high costs, which it pays to foreign companies, by encourging its own private companies to join hands in Defence productions.

Replying to a query on provisions licence to private manufactures, Mr Singh said the MoD had fascilitated in providing licences to all those private companies, who so ever have applied for it.

Asked why private companies are not more enthusiastic in joining hands with the Ministry of Defence, Mr Singh said it was just because the military requirements are not similar to those in the civil sectors.

''There is no guarantee of success all the time,'' he said, citing the example of yesterday's Agni III launch, which could not come up to the expectations after a successful take off.

''Moreover, the business riskes are more in defence productions,'' he added.

UNI VJ RA HS1902