India’s Defence Manufacturing: Tamil Nadu Gears Up For Next Level, Multiple Firms To Sign MoUs In Trichy On 20 January

Several companies based out of Tamil Nadu, including big firms and MSMEs that either manufacture defence equipment or are ready to begin production, are set to sign multiple Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state defence purchase department in Trichy on 20 January, reports The Times of India.

A Coimbatore defence innovation hub along with new defence products will be inaugurated at the event, which will be attended by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Tamil Nadu Industries Minister MC Sampath among others.

“We chose Trichy as Chennai, Hosur and Coimbatore are already part of the defence corridor and are known for manufacturing components for several public sector companies. But in Trichy as well as in other districts down south, there are companies which also manufacture parts for defence machines. There are new companies which have shown interest in manufacturing parts for firearms in Trichy and nearby districts,” said defence purchase department secretary, Ajay Kumar.

According to the report, Defence ministry had last year released Rs 20 crore as initial funding to the Coimbatore District Small Industries Association (Codissia) which will identify micro and small units as well as startups ready to manufacture components for defence equipment.

“Tamil Nadu is one of the states fit to manufacture defence equipment as already there are companies in Chennai, Aravankadu, Kalpakkam, Trichy, Coimbatore and Mahendragiri supplying parts for aircraft, ships and tanks,” Minister of State for Finance, Pon Radhakrishnan, was quoted as saying.