New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said India’s manufacturing vision must be guided by the principle of “Make in India, Make for India, and Make for the World”, urging MSMEs to seize emerging global trade opportunities and transform themselves into globally competitive enterprises.
Addressing an MSME event in Greater Noida, the Union Minister called upon small and medium enterprises to invest a portion of their turnover in research, development and technology upgradation.
He also encouraged them to build partnerships with universities, IITs, research institutions, DRDO laboratories, startups and large industries to strengthen their technological capabilities.
The Defence Minister said the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 represents an India that is globally competitive in manufacturing, leads in technology and innovation, and is self-reliant in strategic and economic capabilities while generating sufficient employment opportunities for the country’s youth.
Highlighting the changing global supply chains and rising demand for reliable manufacturing partners, Rajnath Singh said the developments present a major opportunity for Indian MSMEs to expand their presence in international markets.
He pointed to the government’s efforts under Prime Minister Narendra Modi to deepen trade partnerships with key countries through Free Trade Agreements, including with the US, UK, New Zealand, Oman, Switzerland and the European Union.
“These FTA networks open up a vast ocean of opportunities for global trade and exports for MSMEs and industries. They must fully leverage these international partnerships and trade agreements through government schemes such as Credit Guarantee Expansion and GST Rationalization, and take Indian products to every corner of the globe,” he said.
Rajnath Singh said the number of MSMEs in India has grown from around 4.67 crore in 2012-13 to approximately 8 crore at present, reflecting the expanding entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country.
He identified drones, artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity, advanced electronics, sensors, autonomous systems, advanced materials, space and quantum technologies as areas offering significant opportunities for MSMEs.
“Indian MSMEs must establish their identity in global markets through quality and reliability. The importance of these attributes is even greater in the defence sector, where the reliability of every component directly affects the operational effectiveness of the Defence Forces,” he said.
(IANS)
