Chennai (UNI) Expressing the desire that Tamil Nadu should become a centre of defence manufacturing and propelling growth, Chief Minister MK Stalin today said the state has set a target of securing Rs 75,000 crore investments in this sector by the year 2032.
Inaugurating the three-day AeroDefCon’25 (Aerospace and Defence Conference cum exhibition) here, he said, “I wish Tamil Nadu to become a centre for manufacturing in this sector with the Defence Industrial Corridor set to play a key role in the future.”
The State government would always stand by the armed forces personnel, scientists, entrepreneurs and investors, he added.
The global conference organised by the state government in association with BCI Aerospace of France, is being attended by 300 plus enterprises, over 1000 delegates and more than 8000 B2B meetings.
Top Original Equipment Manufacturing industries from 19 countries participating in the three-day event included Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin and Dassault as well as ISRO, DRDO, HAL and Tata Group. Many firms have set up their stalls at this expo.
Stating that the Defence Industrial Corridor has become a turning point for this sector bringing together aerospace, defence and shipbuilding, he said, “Since its inception it has attracted Rs 23,000 crore investments and is progressing towards achieving the target of Rs 75,000 crore for the next seven years. Already projects worth Rs 5000 crore had been implemented. In order to make Tamil Nadu a maritime economy hub, MoUs had been signed with Cochin Ship Yard and Mazagon Dock last month for an investment of Rs 15,000 crore, generating 60,000 jobs, including 10,000 direct employment.”
Stalin announced that this AeroDefCon would be made an annual event bigger than the present one. Defence, Testing and Coordination Centres would be established through the TN Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) and integrated into the global supply chains to make the State aerospace, defence innovation hub.
