Defence Expo 2024: Maharashtra Spearheads MSME Defence Innovation in Pune
Maharashtra’s MSME Defence Expo 2024 which started on Saturday, February 24 at the Pune International Exhibition and Convention Centre, marking a significant milestone for the state’s defense sector. The three-day event aims to foster advancements in defence manufacturing, with the goal of positioning Maharashtra as a leading hub for small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the field. The expo has drawn attention from over 500 MSMEs and startups, with more than 1 lakh registrations, including over 20,000 students from Pune.
The inauguration ceremony was graced by esteemed dignitaries, including Shri. Devendra Gangadharrao Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri. Uday Samant, Minister for Industries, Maharashtra, Shi. Chandrakant Patil, Higher and Technical Education Minister, Maharashtra, and Shri. Harshdeep Kamble, Principal Secretary, Industries and Mining, Maharashtra, among others. Their presence underscores the importance of the event in driving innovation and collaboration in the defence sector.
Renowned industry leaders such as L&T, Mahindra, Tata, and DRDO have converged to showcase their capabilities, highlighting Maharashtra’s emergence as a pivotal hub for defense production. The expo serves as a platform for showcasing cutting-edge technologies and nurturing proficiency within the defense production sector.
Shri. Devendra Gangadharrao Fadnavis emphasized the strategic importance of Pune in the defense manufacturing ecosystem, citing its 11 ordnance factories, 5 defense PSUs, and state-of-the-art DRDO facility. He also highlighted the need for partnerships between MSMEs and PSUs to bolster the defence manufacturing supply chain.
Shri. Uday Samant echoed these sentiments, stating that Maharashtra is poised to become the defense hub of the nation, with the Maharashtra Government announcing four clusters to enhance the state’s defense competencies. He also emphasized the role of Atmanirbhar Bharat in encouraging the emergence of numerous defense MSMEs.
The first day of the expo featured engaging sessions, including speaking sessions, panel discussions, and keynote addresses, with topics like ‘Boosting a Defence Ecosystem in India’ shedding light on the current state of the defense ecosystem and the need for a national mission program.
A standout highlight of the expo has been the showcase of futuristic indigenous technologies by start-up companies in Maharashtra, including Drones for Aerial Surveillance and Bio-polymer platform-based products for Wound Care.
The MSME Defence Expo aims to elevate the Maharashtra MSME ecosystem, establishing a robust supply chain foundation to cater to the defense production sector. By fostering academia-industry collaborations, the expo seeks to pave the way for defence manufacturing and exports, catalyzing a powerful ecosystem for the state and nation alike.
The Maharashtra MSME Defence Expo 2024 promises to be a transformative event, propelling Maharashtra to the forefront of the defense sector, driving economic growth, and safeguarding the nation’s security.