CM invites defence manufacturing cos to set up shop in Goa

Assuring 'ease of doing business', Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar today invited defence manufacturing firms to set up their units in the coastal state.

"Goa is one of the fastest growing and industrially advanced states in the country. We have significant presence of several public and private sector manufacturing facilities in defence as well as aerospace," Parsekar said during the inauguration of Defence Expo which kicked-off in Goa today.

"My government has ensured ease of doing business by creating an investment promotion board which acts as a single window for all types of industries," he said.

"I would like to take this opportunity to invite defence manufacturing companies from across India and the world to come and set up their shop in Goa under 'Make in India' programme, a flagship mission envisioned by the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi)," he said.

Parsekar said the Defence Expo will motivate Goan youths to join the armed forces.

It will benefit Goan students, engineers and people as a whole, acquainting them with modern day warfares, he said.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik, Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu, and Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh were present on the occasion.

The ninth edition of DefExpo India, a biennial exhibition on land, naval and internal homeland security systems was inaugurated today at Betul-Naqueri in South Goa.

In all, over 1,000 companies, both Indian and foreign, are taking part in the four-day exhibition this year which is one-and-half times more than the participants in DefExpo 2014.

With a total of 510 companies, the participation by Indian firms has doubled since 2014 when 256 companies took part.

A total 490 foreign companies are participating this year as against 368 in DefExpo 2014.

About 950 delegations, as compared to 511 in 2014, are expected to visit the exhibition this year.