Lagatar24 Desk
Jamshedpur: A two-day Defence Expo-cum-State Level MSME Conclave was inaugurated in Adityapur, highlighting Jharkhand’s potential to emerge as a defence manufacturing hub, with Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth indicating that the state could also develop a defence corridor.
Defence Corridor Vision for Jharkhand
Addressing the inaugural session, Sanjay Seth said India has around four crore MSME units, but only about 16,000 are currently linked to the defence sector. He emphasised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of integrating more MSMEs and startups into defence production. Citing Jharkhand’s rich mineral resources and favourable industrial environment, Seth said the state could develop a defence corridor on the lines of Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. He urged the state government to demonstrate political will, strengthen infrastructure, improve law and order, and implement a single-window clearance system. He also expressed hope that cities like Jamshedpur, Ranchi and Bokaro could play a key role in this initiative and described establishing a defence corridor in Jharkhand as his personal aspiration.
Key Highlights of the Expo and Conclave
The conclave featured over 60 stalls, where entrepreneurs interacted closely with defence sector requirements. The event included B2B meetings, technical seminars and workshops aimed at familiarising local enterprises with defence manufacturing opportunities. Experts provided detailed insights into government schemes and policies, enabling MSMEs to scale innovations for global markets. Officials noted that greater MSME participation in defence could significantly boost the economy, meet the armed forces’ technological needs, and generate new employment opportunities.
