Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) hosts Defence MSME Manufacturers Forum

The Indian defence industry is witnessing an unparalleled era of growth due to the Government of India's emphasis on self-reliance, manufacturing and technology. The production of the defence goods was ₹1.78 lakh crore in the fiscal year of 2025-26 while the export of the defence goods was ₹38,000 crore which indicates that India has established itself as a trustworthy exporter of defence goods and technologies globally.

The policy changes along with increased procurement have made MSMEs contribute significantly to the defence supply chain of India. Hyderabad, widely regarded as India's Defence Capital, continues to play a pivotal role in this transformation. The city is home to leading Defence Public Sector Undertakings, DRDO laboratories, missile and aerospace manufacturing facilities, defence electronics companies, advanced engineering firms and a rapidly expanding network of technology-driven MSMEs and startups.

The opening session also featured addresses by Chief Guest, Shri Krishna Aditya, IAS, Special Secretary, Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Telangana special guests like, Cmde P. R. Hari, IN (Retd.), Chairman & Managing Director, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. and Chairman, National Expert Committee on Defence, Aerospace & Space, ICC, Vishnu Malpani, Executive Director, Azad Engineering Ltd.; Shri Praveen P.A., Director, Aerospace & Defence, Government of Telangana; Shri Nikhil Chakravarthy J. (IA&AS), Director, Industries & Commerce, Government of Telangana; Dr. S. V. S. Narayana Murty, Chairman & Managing Director, MIDHANI and Dr. Rajeev Singh, Director General, Indian Chamber of Commerce. During the session, ICC also released the report "MSMEs – A Force Multiplier for India's Defence Ecosystem Edition 2 and the introduction of the Southern Region Defence Chair.”

The forum emphasized enhancing the participation of MSMEs in India's defence and aerospace manufacturing supply chain, along with fostering cooperation among industry, start-ups, academic institutions, research organizations, and government officials. In addition to this, the forum aimed at establishing Telangana as an important destination for defence, aerospace, electronics, and advanced manufacturing. One of the most important features of the conference was the B2B and B2G meeting sessions that ensured the interaction of MSMEs, defence companies, OEMs, Defence PSUs, and government officials directly.