UKTI -DSO sees two way partnerships with India in the defense and security sphere

Defenseworld.net, the online show daily of Aero India 2009 interviewed Mr Richard Paniguian, head of U.K. Trade and Industry- Defense and Security Organization UKTI(DSO) on his organization’s view on the Indian defense and aerospace market and a new thrust on internal security. Mr. Penguin said it was his first visit since taking up my appointment last August. He said he was aware of the strong industrial links in both civil and defense sectors and the historical links between the two governments. He said he was delighted at the strong British presence at Aero India 09 and his organization intends to respond to India’s forthcoming requirements from both sectors. He said he was particularly interested in India’s security equipment requirement and hoped the British companies’ technological excellence in this field would make a difference to the security equipment requirement in India. Both countries had responded in recent times to internal security threats and it would mutually beneficial for both countries to address these issues from a technological standpoint. The british aerospace industry made heavy investment in R & D to constantly stay ahead in the innovation race and in 2008 had spent 2.7 billion pounds. The UK defense industry was one of the country’s success stories and exports were 19 billion dollars last year achieving 30% share of the global market. At the same time British companies have been delivered a 70% cut in co2 emissions from the average civil aircraft in last 50 years and a 75% cut in noise levels in last 30 years.