In first foreign visit, Manohar Parrikar to push Korean firms to Make in India

NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is determined to make Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s `Make in India’ initiative a success, even linking it with his firstever foreign visit after taking charge last year. The minister’s first port of call will be South Korea with a visit being finalised for a sizeable delegation from the defence ministry to Seoul in the middle of April.

Parrikar, who has a reputation of being a hard task master, has toured military facilities within India extensively but has not travelled abroad since taking over in November. Sources said that a 2-3 day tour to South Korea has been planned that will emphasise on joint development, encouraging Korean defence firms to manufacture in India.

Officials said that the minister, who will meet his counterpart as well as the Korean National Security Advisor, is keen to study the Korean model of indigenization of the defence industry. Besides, an enhancement of bilateral military ties will also be discussed, including the possibility of increasing exchanges of personnel and joint exercises.

Sources said that the Indian side is keen on discussing projects that will involve Korean companies setting up shop and producing defence related equipment. Among the projects that are likely to be discussed during the visit is the aircraft trainer that Korea makes for its armed forces as well as exports. Another major area is cooperation in the navy’s plans to procure six new minesweepers. The Korean minesweeper is considered to be one of the best in its class, but a plan to buy it directly was shelved due to discrepancies in the bidding process last year.

The ships will now be built at the Goa Shipyard with possible assistance from Korea. Officials said that India is also keen on studying the Korean T 50 Golden Eagle fighter aircraft programme for possible areas of cooperation and sharing of technology for similar Indian initiatives. Korean firms are also participating in multiple ventures for adding new artillery guns for the Indian Army. It is also bel i eved that the Korean side is keen on a trilateral engagement with India and the US, something along the lines that New Delhi has with Tokyo. Parrikar’s visit next month is likely to be followed up by PM Modi’s visit in May.