Visakhapatnam : The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) brought together senior defence officials, policymakers, industry leaders and emerging start-ups at the ICC Defence Start-Up & Autonomous Systems Summit, underscoring the strategic and economic urgency of indigenisation in India’s defence sector.
The summit highlighted the growing convergence of defence manufacturing, technological innovation and maritime security in strengthening India’s position in the Indo-Pacific region.
Maritime Security and Strategic Autonomy in Focus
Delivering the keynote address, Sanjay Bhalla, Vice Admiral, AVSM, NM, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, stressed the centrality of maritime security to India’s economic stability.
“Safeguarding our maritime interests is directly linked to India’s economic security. A strong and technologically advanced Navy is essential for maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific,” he said.
He further emphasised that domestic defence production is not merely an economic choice but a strategic necessity.
“Modernisation through domestic defence manufacturing is essential to achieving true autonomy in defence preparedness.”
States as Catalysts of Defence Manufacturing
G. Satheesh Reddy, President of the Aeronautical Society of India and Member of the National Security Advisory Board, highlighted the expanding role of state governments in strengthening the defence ecosystem.
“Andhra Pradesh has the infrastructure, policy framework and industrial ecosystem to significantly enhance India’s defence manufacturing capabilities,” he noted.
He added that the future of aerospace and defence lies firmly in indigenous innovation and globally competitive domestic capacity building.
MSMEs and Start-Ups: The Innovation Engines
P. R. Hari (Retd.), Chairman of ICC’s National Expert Committee on Defence, Aerospace & Space and CMD of Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE), underscored the transformative role of MSMEs and start-ups.
“MSMEs and start-ups are the innovation engines of the defence sector. Their agility and technological strength can accelerate the modernisation of our armed forces,” he said.
He called for deeper collaboration between large public sector enterprises and emerging technology firms to build a resilient and self-reliant defence manufacturing ecosystem.
Industry–Government Synergy under Atmanirbhar Bharat
In his welcome address, Rajeev Singh, Director General of ICC, praised the government’s indigenisation drive under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
“The government’s push under Atmanirbhar Bharat has created unprecedented opportunities for Indian defence manufacturers. Industry, policy and innovation must work in tandem to transform India into a global defence manufacturing hub.”
The formal vote of thanks was delivered by Gautam Nanda, Co-Chair of ICC’s National Committee on Defence, Aerospace & Space and Partner at Ernst & Young LLP.
Knowledge Report and Industry Participation
The summit saw participation from over 170 delegates, including senior officials from the Eastern Naval Command, and featured 18 defence and drone start-up stalls.
A knowledge report titled “Defence Production Powering Industrial Growth” was released during the event, highlighting the sector’s multiplier effect on industrial expansion and employment generation. A dedicated B2B support desk facilitated partnerships and addressed operational requirements of MSMEs and emerging enterprises.
The summit reinforced ICC’s commitment to strengthening collaboration between government, industry and innovators — accelerating India’s march towards strategic autonomy and global competitiveness in defence manufacturing.
