He was speaking at an interactive session organised by FICCI Ladies Organisation (FICCI FLO) with the theme “Parivartan in defence sector: Changing role and opportunities for women” in New Delhi July 4.
“As part of government endeavour to bring gender parity, in the coming years, the armed forces will see larger participation of women especially in the Navy. New Ships are being modified with infrastructure to accommodate women in the Navy. Recent commissioning of three women pilot in Air Force is a welcome step and should be considered as breaking psychological barrier. Any move in the direction of ushering in gender parity has to be a smooth affair and step by step it will be achieved,” Mr Parrikar observed.
Mr Parrikar also said that the Union Government’s recent decision to notify changes in the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the defence sector will help country become an ‘Export hub’ in the coming years.
The government has taken a big step in defence sector by permitting 100 per cent FDI in defence sector. This has been done so that India becomes 'export hub' over the years as well as self reliant, after recent Boeing-TATA joint venture for producing fuselage of AH-64 Apache attack helicopters in India, more foreign investment is in pipeline in the defence sector in coming days.
“Allowing of 100 per cent FDI in defence is just an enabler, major global defence companies will invest when they are sure of orders from India and other countries. Tie up of foreign companies having technology with major Indian companies including TATA’s and Mahindra are already on and huge foreign investment is in the pipeline in defence sector,” Mr Parrikar noted.
Recently government has increased production in its various defence production units as well has decided in principle to allow export of our defence products including missile systems to ‘certain’ friendly countries that have friendly relationship with India, marking a new era of arms export for world’s largest arms importer, the Defence Minister said, adding, “similarly various countries have shown keen interest in our defence products. It has tentatively been decided to export 10 per cent of them to countries who were interested, while keeping the remaining 90 per cent for use by India.”
Speaking on the occasion, FICCI FLO President Vinita Bimbhet said FICCI Ladies Organisation (FICCI FLO) welcomes recent steps taken by government to promote the participation of private sector in indigenous defence productions and 100 per cent FDI along with induction of first female fighters in Indian Air Force paving the way for women to be given more combat roles moving towards gender parity in the world’s biggest force.”
“Women entrepreneurs and corporate houses can play greater role in defence production, research and support and take advantage of new government policy of greater private participation,” she added.
The FLO urged Ministry of Defence to give preference to women in the canteen store department procurement funding at preferential rates to women entrepreneurs who are willing to supply to the forces, give purchase preference to women vendors in the public procurement policy on the lines of the MSME.
It urged that if any delegation led by the Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister), women entrepreneurs should be made part of it and also during big government shows like Aero-India and Def Expo, women should be given booths to display their product/services at subsidised rates. Five per cent of Technology Development Fund should be reserved for women and DRDO should waive off license fee of using the technology by women.
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