We aim to make largest zone for defence industry: Telangana CM

Weapons are needed not only for war, but for peace, as deterrence is leveraged to prevent war, he said.

Hyderabad: Asserting that his dream is to see India emerge as a “defence superpower”, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday, October 24, said his government aims to make the state the largest industrial zone for the country’s defence industry.

Speaking at a curtain raiser for “Raksha Expo” to be held as part of the state government’s Invest Telangana Global Summit in December, he invited industrialists to invest in the defence sector in the state.

Assuring complete support to the investors, he said he would be ready to become their “brand ambassador” in the state.

“My vision is to see India as a defence superpower. India must rise from an importer of war technology and weapons to becoming self-reliant. After we become self-reliant, we must transform into a leading defence exporter,” he said.

Weapons are needed not only for war, but for peace, as deterrence is leveraged to prevent war, he said.

“Telangana works for this vision in a big way. But we must contribute and achieve more. Telangana aims to become the largest industrial zone for India’s defence industry,” he said.

He also described ‘Raksha Expo’ as a premier platform aimed at connecting global Original Equipment Manufacturers and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises.

He stressed the need for a skilled workforce in the aforementioned institutes and highlighted the significance of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), National Institute of Technology, BITS and other educational institutes in producing the required workforce.

There are allied sectors such as aerospace, cybersecurity, and AI, and his message to the investors is to double their investments, he said.

Reddy said it would be his “guarantee” to make it happen what the investors expect from the government, including permissions, incentives and land allotments.

Highlighting the state government’s vision to make Telangana a USD one trillion economy by 2034 and USD three trillion one by 2047, he said defence manufacturing and aerospace and allied sectors are key to achieving the vision.

He said there have been no policy changes in Telangana since the 1990s, though TDP and Congress were in power in undivided Andhra Pradesh and BRS after the formation of the southern state.

“I am there to interact with any investor. I am there to resolve your problems. I will become your brand ambassador in Telangana to make it a reality,” Reddy said.

The state’s aerospace and defence policy 2.0 would be realised very soon, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Bharat Forge chairman Baba Kalyani said they have had a plant in Hyderabad making missiles for almost the last 12-14 years, and now they are looking at much larger investments in Telangana.

State ministers, officials and industrialists attended the event.