India To Promote Production Of Defense Related Strategic Materials

Indian government is set to introduce 'Strategic Materials Policy' that promotes production as well as storage of defence-related strategic materials.

The Ministry had detailed discussions on the policy," said Parrikar, inaugurating a three-day International Conference & Exhibition on Reinforced Plastics, 2017 (ICERP 2017) here. The conference is organised by FRP Institute, an association of Indian Reinforced Plastics or Composites sector.

The government is also working on "Design in India" policy which will aim at building, enhancing and promoting designing capabilities of Indian manufacturers and entrepreneurs so that they can design products of world-class standards to compete with global counterparts and take advantage of "Make in India" programme, Parrikar was quoted as saying by The Economic Times today.

The Minister assured the Defence Procurement Policy (DPP) will soon include composite products developed indigenously as soon as possible. There was long standing demand of Indian composites industry to source defence equipments, components and ancillary material domestically from Indian manufacturers of composite products and extend support under the 'Make in India' program.

The domestic manufacturers need to enhance designing capabilities to compete with global standards. As far as the defence industry is concerned, there is huge potential.

Indian composites industry can certainly enhance supplies to the defence sector if they provide products of global standards in terms of quality and designing, Parrikar added.

"We will soon include composites products in the DPP, which will allow domestic composites manufacturers to supply to Indian Defence Industry," Parrikar added. The Rs 5,000 crore (US$731.6 million) composites industry had made a strong pitch for support from the government.

Pradip Thakkar, Chairman of FRP asked the Defence Minister to extend the government's support to the Indian composites industry. 

"The Indian composites industry is capable of supplying 100 per cent of requirements of the defence sector, if given due support. Composite materials are emerging as an innovative alternative for steel and aluminium and hence, can be used in defence equipment manufacturing," said Thakkar.