Aero India 2023: Rajnath interacts with Nepal, SL defence ministers

The mega air show was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.

Rajnath also held discussions with the Security Advisor to Bangladesh Prime Minister Major General Tarique Ahmed Siddique.

"Had fruitful discussions with the Security Advisor to Bangladesh PM, Maj Gen Tarique Ahmed Siddique on the sidelines of the AeroIndia show in Bengaluru. Wonderful interaction with the Defence Minister of Nepal, Shri Hari Prasad Uprety ... We look forward to continued cooperation to further deepen our close partnership and shared interests. Glad to interact with Sri Lanka’s Minister of State for Defence, Mr Premitha Bandara Tennakoon ...," the Raksha Mantri tweeted.

More than 80 countries are participating in the mega event. Ministers of about 30 countries and 65 CEOs of global and Indian OEMs are likely to participate in it.

Aero India exhibition will witness the participation of more than 800 Defence companies including around 100 foreign and 700 Indian companies.

The Indian companies participating in the exhibition include MSMEs and startups, which will showcase the advancement of niche technologies, growth in aerospace and defence capabilities in the country.

Major exhibitors at the event include Airbus, Boeing, Dassault Aviation, Lockheed Martin, Israel Aerospace Industry, BrahMos Aerospace, Army Aviation, HC Robotics, SAAB, Safran, Rolls Royce, Larsen & Toubro, Bharat Forge Limited, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and BEML Limited.

In line with PM Modi's vision of 'Make in India, Make for the World', the event will focus on displaying indigenous equipment, technologies and forging partnerships with foreign companies.

PM's emphasis on Atma Nirbharta in the Indian defence sector will also be displayed, as the event will showcase the country’s progress in design leadership, growth in UAVs Sector, Defence Space and futuristic technologies. Further, the event will promote the export of indigenous air platforms like Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Tejas, HTT-40, Dornier Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH).

The event will also help in integrating domestic MSMEs and start-ups in the global supply chain and attract foreign investments including partnerships for co-development and co-production.