Vadodara : Calling on industry leaders to play a defining role in India’s development journey, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday urged regional industries to become active partners in building Viksit Bharat @2047, stressing that local strengths must be transformed into national capabilities and globally competitive industries.
Addressing the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference in Vadodara, Rajnath Singh said the vision of a developed India extends beyond economic growth and aims to build a nation that is technologically advanced, economically resilient and socially empowered.
“Regional industries must become partners in the Viksit Bharat journey by transforming regional strengths into national capabilities, local innovations into global competitiveness and industrial growth into strategic strength,” he said.
The conference was attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Gujarat Minister Dr. Manisha Vakil, industrialists, entrepreneurs, start-ups and academicians.
Highlighting the changing global geopolitical landscape, the Defence Minister said India’s future position in the world would be determined by three critical pillars—economic strength, technological capability and national security.
“History teaches us that great nations stand on three essential pillars: economic strength, technological prowess and national security. Economic prosperity and technological advancement reinforce national security, while a secure nation provides the stability that allows industry and innovation to flourish,” he said.
Rajnath Singh emphasised that India’s defence sector has evolved into a major economic growth engine, generating opportunities in manufacturing, infrastructure, logistics, research, technology and employment. He said defence corridors and innovation-led initiatives are strengthening India’s industrial ecosystem while encouraging greater participation from private enterprises and start-ups.
He highlighted the government’s policy initiatives, including Make in India, reforms in the Defence Acquisition Procedure, the Technology Development Fund, iDEX, Srijan Portal, Defence Testing Infrastructure and simplified licensing norms, which have accelerated indigenous defence manufacturing.
Sharing key achievements, the Defence Minister said India’s domestic defence production has increased from ₹46,000 crore in 2014 to a record ₹1.78 lakh crore, while defence exports have grown from less than ₹1,000 crore to ₹38,424 crore, reflecting the country’s emergence as a global defence manufacturing hub.
Clarifying the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Rajnath Singh said self-reliance should not be viewed as isolation.
“Self-reliance does not mean isolation; it signifies a nation standing firmly on its own feet and engaging with the world as an equal partner,” he said, adding that India continues to encourage technology transfers, joint ventures and collaborations with global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
Highlighting Gujarat’s strategic importance, he said the state possesses a strong industrial ecosystem, skilled workforce and entrepreneurial culture capable of making it one of India’s leading defence and aerospace manufacturing hubs.
He referred to landmark projects such as the Tata-Airbus C-295 aircraft manufacturing facility in Vadodara and the production of the K-9 Vajra self-propelled artillery system in Gujarat as examples of the state’s growing contribution to India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem.
The Defence Minister also underscored the importance of Gujarat’s emerging semiconductor ecosystem in Sanand and Dholera, describing it as a cornerstone of India’s technological sovereignty in future technologies, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cybersecurity and space technology.
He added that Gujarat’s strengths in chemicals, petrochemicals, electronics, shipbuilding, renewable energy and green hydrogen position the state to play a significant role in next-generation defence technologies.
During the conference, Rajnath Singh interacted with representatives from industry, MSMEs, start-ups and academia on strengthening India’s defence and aerospace ecosystem. He also visited an exhibition showcasing innovations in defence manufacturing, heavy industries, mobility, exports, women entrepreneurship, tribal products and MSMEs.
The Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference, an extension of the globally recognised Vibrant Gujarat Summit, has been launched by the Gujarat Government to promote balanced regional development while aligning local industrial growth with the broader vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 and Viksit Gujarat @2047.
