Kerala keen on JVs in defence sector: Kunhalikutty

KOCHI: Kerala is keen on more joint ventures with the defence sector as it wants to capitalise on the vast potential for indigenous enterprises in this area, state industries minister P K Kunhalikutty on Friday said.

Kunhalikutty said there is a huge potential as defence production has been opened up to the private sector and the Centre favours indigenous suppliers to reduce imports, now approximately 70 per cent of procurement.

He recalled that several JV projects were inked with the defence ministry during the previous Left Democratic Front tenure. "We also want to do more joint sector ventures in defence and are keen to have this opportunity for the state," he said in his inaugural address at the Defence Enterprise Interaction here.

He assured small and medium enterprises that the government would extend all help to them to utilise these opportunities.

T Balakrishnan, Managing Director of INKEL ( Infrastructures Kerala Limited) and Kerala High Speed Corridor said six defence units are setting up their units in Kerala, which would enable the state get more opportunity to interact with these organisations, understand their needs and match it.

This would also help revive the manufacturing sector where lack of labour is a cause of concern. There is need to go for latest mass producing machines to help increase skills of people and productivity and profitability, he said.

Secretary (Industries-IP) and Managing Director of Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation, Alkesh Kumar Sharma, said defence forces procurement covers all range of items produced, manufactured and developed by Indian industries so there are several opportunities for business linkages with the armed forces.