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<p data-start="0" data-end="198"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Gujarat moved closer to becoming a defence manufacturing hub on Monday with a high-level seminar in Gandhinagar focused on integrating the state&rsquo;s MSMEs into India&rsquo;s national defence supply chain.</span></p>
<p data-start="200" data-end="721"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Titled &ldquo;Self-Reliance in the Defence Sector&rdquo;, the event was jointly organised by the Union Defence Production Department, Gujarat Industries and Mines Department, the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), and Laghu Udyog Bharati. Discussions covered engineering, precision fabrication, defence electronics, UAVs, aerospace components, armour ceramics, defence textiles, specialty chemicals, coatings, and composite materials highlighting procurement, innovation, and export opportunities for local MSMEs.</span></p>
<p data-start="723" data-end="964"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Industries Minister Balvantsinh Rajput said Gujarat, guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s vision, is leading India&rsquo;s journey towards self-reliance in defence production, backed by strong policies, infrastructure, and skill development.</span></p>
<p data-start="966" data-end="1336"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Department of Defence Production Joint Secretary Manisha Chandra called Gujarat&rsquo;s MSMEs &ldquo;innovation partners&rdquo; vital to accelerating economic growth and strategic independence. Additional Chief Secretary Mamta Verma noted that over 1,000 start-ups and 16,000 MSMEs already operate in this sector, stressing the need to leverage government schemes to expand their reach.</span></p>
<p data-start="1338" data-end="1745"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Speakers included Defence Production Secretary Sanjiv Kumar, Laghu Udyog Bharati President Baldev Prajapati, DRDO&rsquo;s Major General A.K. Channan, and officials from SIDBI, L&amp;T Precision Engineering, HAL, Tata Advanced Systems, and the National Defence University all emphasising MSMEs&rsquo; role in boosting domestic defence manufacturing under the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission and Viksit Bharat @2047 roadmap.</span></p>
<p data-start="1747" data-end="1908" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node=""><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The programme also featured presentations on MSMEs&rsquo; role in self-reliance, start-up participation in defence, procurement processes, and innovation-led growth.</span></p>
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Gujarat Backs MSMEs in Defence Self-Reliance Push

Gandhinagar hosts high-level meet to connect MSMEs with India’s defence supply chain goals

Gujarat Backs MSMEs in Defence Self-Reliance Push

Gandhinagar hosts high-level meet to connect MSMEs with India’s defence supply chain goals

August 11, 2025 | 19:14 IST