Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday (9 June) handed over 12 High Speed Guard Boats to Vietnam during his visit to Hong Ha Shipyard in Hai Phong.

The boats have been constructed under the Government of India’s $100 million defence line of credit to Vietnam.

The initial five boats were built in the Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Shipyard in India and the other seven in Hong Ha Shipyard.

Senior civil and military officials of India and Vietnam were present during the handing over ceremony, the Defence Ministry said in a release on Thursday.

In his address, Singh, who is on a three-day visit to Vietnam, described the project as a glowing example of ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He said the successful completion of the project, despite the challenges due to Covid-19 pandemic, is testimonial to the commitment and professional excellence of the Indian defence manufacturing sector as also of Hong Ha Shipyard.

He exuded confidence that the project will be a precursor to many more cooperative defence projects between India and Vietnam in future.

Singh invited Vietnam to become a part of India’s defence industrial transformation through enhanced cooperation. He asserted that the Indian defence industry has substantially increased its capabilities under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ vision of the Prime Minister.

He stressed that the objective is to build a domestic industry in order to make India a defence manufacturing hub which not only caters to the domestic needs, but also fulfills international requirements.