Dr G Satheesh Reddy, Former Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri & President The Aeronautical Society of India has declared lofty ambitions for the city, stating that it will soon transform into a bustling Defense, Maritime, and Aerospace hub on par with Bangalore and Hyderabad.

This announcement made during an interactive session organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), comes amidst a flurry of activity and strategic planning aimed at bolstering Visakhapatnam's role in India's defense endeavors.

Dr G Satheesh Reddy said that the centerpiece of this grand vision is the proposed Defense and Maritime Industrial Park near Visakhapatnam.

A blueprint for the park, encompassing manufacturing units, R&D centers, deep ocean research facilities, testing labs, and spaces for technology transfer, skill development, and foreign OEMs, has already been submitted to the Andhra Pradesh government for land identification. The Indian government has pledged its support through special grants and collaboration with concerned departments to expedite land acquisition.

Dr N Yuvaraj, Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Government of Andhra Pradesh, responded positively to the park initiative, assuring collaboration with concerned departments to identify suitable land. He also requested a special grant from the central government, which Dr. Reddy readily expressed his support for.

Dr. Reddy emphasized the crucial role of private entities in realizing this ambitious project. He highlighted the vast opportunities available for companies to partner in equipment production, with the government even opening up its own facilities for collaborations.

Additionally, He urged for allocating land for National Shipbuilding Design & Research Institute (NSTL) test facilities near the park to promote synergy and knowledge sharing.

Dr. Reddy emphasized the government's dedication to bolstering domestic manufacturing across various sectors, including defense. He highlighted the ample opportunities available for private entities to partner in equipment production, with the government even opening up facilities within the public sector for their use.

J Srinivasa Raju, Chairman, Society of Indian Defense Manufacturers (SIDM) Andhra Pradesh, emphasized the organization's crucial role in fostering self-reliance within Indian industries, particularly in the defense sector.

He envisions an even greater future for SIDM, driving not only domestic defense development but also establishing a significant presence in the global market. To achieve this ambitious goal, he revealed that SIDM has already forged strategic partnerships with foreign countries.

Pointing to India's burgeoning defense export figures, Mr G S Siva Kumar, Past Chairman, CII Andhra Pradesh, lauded the "Make in India" initiative as a game-changer for the sector.

He credited the policy's focus on fostering domestic manufacturing and innovation with propelling India's emergence as a major exporter of defense equipment.

The event also witnessed representatives from various industry stakeholders, including the Society of Indian Defense Manufacturers (SIDM), Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Hindustan Shipyard Ltd (HSL), and Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), sharing their valuable insights and contributions towards building a self-reliant India (Aatmanirbhar Bharat) in the defense, maritime, and aerospace sectors.

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