Government of Uttar Pradesh and UKIBC hold roundtable on Defence & Security Opportunities
By UK India Business Council (UKIBC)
The UK India Business Council in partnership with the Government of Uttar Pradesh and UK Defence and Security Exports (part of DIT) have held a roundtable to bring together key stakeholders in the State with UK industry.
This roundtable provided a platform for the State Government of UP to outline its Homeland Security (HLS) requirements and to understand conditions under which UK firms look to invest in India. UK firms then showcased their technologies to address those requirements and gain a better understanding of doing business in UP and more widely India.
We were delighted to be joined by Mr Graham Stuart, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for International Trade. The roundtable was attended by Siddharth Nath Singh, Minister of Investment and MSME, Mr Awinash Awasthi, ACS, Home, Government of UP; Mr Navneet Seghal, ACS, MSME, UKIBC’s Jayant Krishna, CEO; Richard McCallum, Vice Chair India; and Cmd Bunty Sethi, A&D Director; and UK and Indian companies.
Cabinet Minister Siddharth Nath Singh, Minister of Investment and MSME, said: “In the last four years or so, Uttar Pradesh has been making significant forward-facing steps on business and social policy. Labour reforms in the COVID period for instance were exemplary and quickly followed by other States. The political stability in the State is a strength that will enable us to continue to develop the State’s political and business environment for the benefit of investors, and supported by a strong network of international financial services in the state. The UK and India have been working on many strategic partnerships, defence and security included. UK companies are already keen suppliers in the State and UP is open and welcoming to UK investment.”
Minister Graham Stuart said: “There are superb prospects between the UK and India for trade and investment in the defence and security sector. From police equipment to public safety solutions, cyber security to property protection, there are great export and investment opportunities in both directions to deliver value, security, jobs and prosperity. The UK is the second largest defence exporter and third largest security exporter. Our long-standing export pedigree and India’s industrial base can together deliver a world beating defence and security sector.”
UKIBC CEO Jayant Krishna said: “The UK and India can come together for a win-win partnership entailing co-creation and manufacture in India for domestic consumption and export. Attractive reforms are supporting international investors, particularly the raising of FDI from 49 to 74 percent under the automatic route. The Defence Acquisition Procedure is a step in the right direction too.
Uttar Pradesh is the largest State by population in India and the second largest by GDP. Ease of doing business has improved tremendously up to 2nd in the State rankings. The UKIBC’s Aerospace and Defence Group is continually growing with 15 members at present, with a common desire to support India’s growth opportunities and homeland security, and UP is an attractive proposition.”
The UK has extensive expertise in areas such as: surveillance and remote detection equipment and software; sensors for explosive, chemical and biological hazard detection; AI-facial recognition software; integrated data management systems.
Part of ‘Team UK’ in India, UKIBC’s Aerospace & Defence Industry Group represents 15 A&D firms[1] with global revenues of GBP 60Bn; a diverse group but united in their ambitions to trade with, invest in and build a better partnership with India. UKIBC is now developing a Homeland Security (HLS) vertical, which will focus on helping UK firms meet potential procurement agencies and officials in various states in India where UKIBC already has trade / investment MoUs in place.
This workshop is the first of a series of events with the state, each one building on the last to continually deepen the relationship and mine tangible opportunities for the UK.
[1] Addev Materials, Avon Protection, Babcock, BAE Systems, Cobham, IMI Critical Engineering, Leonardo, Martin Baker, MBDA, Rolls-Royce, Smiths, Thales UK, TVS Supply Chain Logistics, Ultra Electronics, and HSA Legal.
