SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha attended the North-Tech Symposium-2023 at the Jagti Campus of IIT Jammu on Monday.
The Lieutenant Governor congratulated the Northern Command, the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM), and IIT Jammu for jointly hosting hundreds of industries and defence tech startups, making this year’s North-Tech Symposium a unique experience through their collaboration.
It is a proud moment for academia as, for the first time since its inception, the North-Tech Symposium, a defence expo, is being held at IIT Jammu, the Lieutenant Governor said.
He observed that the three-day mega event would showcase cutting-edge technological advancements of the Indian Army and forge synergy between the Army, industry, and academia in research, development, and innovation in defence technologies.
At the expo, the Lieutenant Governor also talked about India’s emergence as a defence exporter and self-reliance in defence production.
“Under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, the country has witnessed a major push for Atma Nirbharta (self-reliance) in defence. We are a responsible space power and have shown our strategic strength,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
He mentioned that the launch of INS Vikrant last year vindicated India’s resolve to develop indigenous capabilities.
“Our arms imports have significantly reduced in the last 4-5 years, and defence exports reached an all-time high in the last financial year. It shows our commitment to innovation and indigenous technology development,” he said.
“The Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji and Hon’ble Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh Ji have set the target of achieving 70 percent Atma Nirbharta in weaponry by 2027, which provides unlimited opportunities to private industries, MSMEs, and tech startups. It signals our steadfast commitment to self-reliance,” the Lieutenant Governor stated.
On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor congratulated and expressed his gratitude to the Armed Forces for their complete devotion to the motherland and their determination to strengthen national security.
He said that rapid advancements in technology also called for new innovations in the defence sector. The greater focus on research and development and innovation for defence excellence will ensure that India is fully prepared for future warfare, he added.
The North-Tech Symposium provides a platform for the Army, academia, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, experts, and key stakeholders to identify unique solutions to meet the Army’s operational requirements while promoting self-reliance in defence production and technology proliferation.
The symposium will feature exhibitions, product launches, structured interactions, and technical seminars.
Lieutenant General M. V. Suchindra Kumar, Vice Chief of Army Staff; Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi, GOC-in-C Northern Command; Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, GOC 15 Corps; Prof Manoj S Gaur, Director, IIT Jammu; Dr Sunil Misra, Director General, Society for Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM); senior officers of the Army, Police, Civil Administration, members of SIDM, industry leaders, students, and young entrepreneurs were present. (KNO)
