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The ninth edition of the DefeExpo 2016, the biennial land, naval and internal homeland security systems exhibition opened in Naqueri-Quitol, South Goa on March 28. The four-day mega event has travelled out of the Capital and is being held in Goa for the first time. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, also a former Chief Minister of Goa, inaugurated the DefExpo and unveiled the new Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) which gives top priority to the Indian-designed, developed and manufactured (IDDM) category. “”This DPP can actually push the agenda of `Make in Indiaâ and IndiaâÂÂs target of achieving major successes in creating a defence industry network for its own needs as well as exports,”” Mr. Parrikar said.

• The government will finance 90% of the cost of producing defence equipment by the private sector under a new sub-category in the DPP-2016.
• The defence sector is a key sector among the 25 sectors of industry covered under the initiative, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2014.
• “”The government is proactive in promoting Make in India. Startup India can be a big contributor in the defence sector. With the new DPP, we have ensured that transparency is greater and clearances are faster,”” Mr. Parrikar said while inviting the industry to participate in a big way.
• “”The DPP favours swift decision making, provides for suitable timelines and delegates powers to the appropriate authorities to ensure an efficient and effective implementation of the procurement process, by all stakeholders concerned,”” the DPP said.
• For the past several years, the private sectorâÂÂs engagement in the defence sector has not been substantial as the domestic manufacturing is still dominated by the defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs) and the Ordnance Factories Board (OFB). India continues to import high-tech and major defence equipment and is the largest importer of arms globally.
• In the recent past, companies like Bharat Forge Ltd, Reliance Industries Ltd, the Tata Group, Larsen and Toubro Ltd, the Godrej Group, the Kalyani group, the Punj Llyod group and the Mahindra Group have shown interest in scouting for business opportunities.
• Global giants like Airbus and Boeing are also keen to make their products in India and exporting them.
• As many as 1055 Indian and foreign companies from 47 countries are participating in DefExpo 2016 as against 624 in 2014.
• The pavilions of Russia, the U.S. and Israel are among the largest in the exhibition which is spread over an area of 40,725 square meter.

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