By Staff Correspondent
SIDM, in collaboration with UK Defence and Security Exports (UKDSE) and the UK India Business Council (UKIBC), organised the ‘UK – India Round Table on Co-Creating Future Defence Technologies. Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP, Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade, Government of UK, Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India and Mr SP Shukla, President, SIDM, addressed the Indian and UK Industry.
The interaction aimed to develop future defence technologies and explore opportunities to strengthen bilateral defence trade. In his opening remarks, SP Shukla, President, SIDM, highlighted that cooperation in the defence sector is an important pillar of India – UK bilateral cooperation that will strengthen in coming years. He further added that the foundation had been laid for enhancing the defence bilateral industrial cooperation both at government and Industrial levels. He shared the SIDM’s MoU with UKIBC will facilitate closer interaction between the Industries from both sides.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP, Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade, Government of UK, emphasised that the Prime Minister of India and the United Kingdom are keen to have a strengthened defence partnership as part of the ‘Roadmap 2030’. She highlighted that today’s interaction intends to find the right tools to move this relationship forward. The Secretary emphasised the opportunities that a UK-India Free Trade Agreement will present.
HE Mr chaired the Round Table Interaction with the UK and Indian Industry. Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India, deliberated upon topics like Very Short-Range Air Defence Partnership, Combat Air Partnership, Jet Engine Development, and MissileSystem Collaboration. The interaction was attended virtually by crucial industry members, including Mr Jayant D Patil, Whole Time Director, Larsen & Toubro Defence, Mr Ravi Nirgudkar, Managing Director, BAE Systems India, Commodore Siddharth Mishra – CMD, Bharat Dynamics Ltd.
