Visakhapatnam, Feb 24: The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) convened defence officials, policymakers, industry leaders and start-ups at the ICC Defence Start Up & Autonomous Systems Summit, highlighting the strategic and economic importance of indigenisation in India’s defence sector.
Addressing the summit, Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, AVSM, NM, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, underscored the strategic imperative of maritime security in the evolving Indo-Pacific landscape. “Safeguarding our maritime interests is directly linked to India’s economic security. A strong and technologically advanced Navy is essential for maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific,” he said. Emphasising the importance of domestic industry, he added, “Modernisation through domestic defence manufacturing is not merely an economic choice; it is a strategic necessity to achieve true autonomy in defence preparedness.”
Dr G. Satheesh Reddy, President of the Aeronautical Society of India, Advisor to the Government of Andhra Pradesh and Member of the National Security Advisory Board, highlighted the growing role of states in strengthening the national defence manufacturing ecosystem. “Andhra Pradesh has the infrastructure, policy framework and industrial ecosystem to significantly enhance India’s defence manufacturing capabilities,” he noted. He further added, “The future of aerospace and defence lies in indigenous innovation, and we must build capacity within the country to compete globally.”
Cmde P.R. Hari, IN (Retd.), Chairman of the ICC National Expert Committee on Defence, Aerospace & Space and Chairman & Managing Director of Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE), emphasised the critical role of MSMEs and start-ups in driving transformation within the sector. “MSMEs and start-ups are the innovation engines of the defence sector. Their agility and technological strength can accelerate the modernisation of our armed forces,” he said. Calling for enhanced collaboration, he added, “Collaboration between large public sector enterprises and emerging technology firms is critical to building a robust and self-reliant defence ecosystem.”
In his welcome address, Dr Rajeev Singh, Director General of the Indian Chamber of Commerce, lauded the government’s indigenisation drive under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. “The government’s push under Atmanirbhar Bharat has created unprecedented opportunities for Indian defence manufacturers,” he said, adding that “industry, policy and innovation must work in tandem to transform India into a global defence manufacturing hub.”
Cdr Gautam Nanda, Co-Chair of the ICC National Committee on Defence, Aerospace & Space and Partner, Business Consulting at Ernst & Young LLP, delivered the formal vote of thanks.
The summit witnessed participation from over 170 delegates, including senior officials from the Eastern Naval Command, and featured 18 defence and drone start-up stalls. A knowledge report titled “Defence Production Powering Industrial Growth” was released on the occasion, outlining the sector’s multiplier impact on industrial growth and employment generation. A dedicated B2B support desk was also set up to facilitate partnerships and address the operational requirements of MSMEs and start-ups.
The summit reinforced ICC’s commitment to fostering collaboration between government, industry and innovators to strengthen India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem and advance the nation’s journey towards strategic autonomy.