AJIT JOHN
Goa could well be a base for the production of helicopters if the wind moves in the right direction. This was revealed by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar at the Goa Investment Summit A Prelude on Friday.
He said the State was an ideal location given the availability of necessary infrastructure though he repeatedly emphasized that nothing had been finalized on this. The Defence Minister said reforms, regarding the production of armaments, would be finalised in a few months and that there was a case for a mindset change. Alluding to the gloomy industrial scenario at the time when the BJP party came to power, he said that a similar mindset prevailed in defence production.
He said, “We have taken these issues in defence production on a priority basis and in a few months, they will be completed.” He refused to provide details saying that only on completing a task could one gain bragging rights.
Speaking on the State’s investment policy he said it was one of the best in the country because there was finality to the policy unlike those of other States. Answering questions from the audience about FDI in the defence sector he said that it was important to read policy closely as it stated that if a company came in with cutting edge technology they could be 100 per cent stake holders.
This, however, he said would not happen unless and until there was a possibility of guarantee of purchase and freedom to export. Otherwise he said no one would come. With regards to private shipyards in the State pitching for work from the navy specially the construction of war ships he said the monies were beyond the scope of the shipyards though they could pitch for component creation which could guarantee business.
Earlier, he noted that existing regulations had held back the construction of road repairs at the country’s borders. He said, “Defence of the country is of paramount importance. Enemy of the country is not going to consider your laws. There should be proper set of laws for defence projects.”
The reforms will address some of the long-standing issues that have been plagued by the delay in the indigenous production of defence equipment, forcing India to be dependent on imports.
