Aero India 2021 declared an “unprecedented success”

Colombo, February 6 (newsin.asia): The Aero India (Virtual) 2021 in hybrid format was an unprecedented success despite the Covid 19, with 121 MoUs, 19 Transfer of Technology, 04 handing over and 18 product launches, the Indian High Commission said in a release on Saturday.

The world’s first mega event on a hybrid format, saw INR 2030 million worth of orders being bagged by 45 MSMEs making it a grand success said the Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.  The Aero India (Virtual) was attended by 16,000 people physically and 4.5 Lakh Virtually. The platform hosted 540 companies, including 84 foreign companies from 55 nations.

India committed to invest 130 Billion Dollars towards enhancing security by military modernization in next 7-8 years and the Aero India was a platform ‘Runway to a Billion opportunities’ to realize this goal.

President Ram Nath Kovind expressed happiness over Hindustan Aeronautical Limited bagging the 83 Tejas Aircraft deal from Indian Air Force valued at Rs 48,000 crore, thus significantly strengthening India’s self-reliance in the defense sector as well as establishing India as a manufacturer for the world. The President said that Aero India 2021 was a living proof of nation’s ever growing strength in the defense and aerospace sectors at the global level.

The event undoubtedly propelled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ to a new pedestal. The air show saw from fighter aircraft, Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas), Maritime Patrol Aircraft like DO-228, Advanced Light Helicopter (Dhruv), Light Combat Helicopter, Light Utility Helicopter and the Air Tatoo by ‘Sarang’ and ‘Surya Kirans’ mesmerizing the crowds at Bengaluru, in South India.

The High Commission of India in Sri Lanka organized the Aero India Virtual for the Sri Lanka Defense Forces and the local business community at Taj Samudra. The events spanning over three days had Rear Adm (Retd) Dr Sarath Weerasekara, Minister for Public Security, General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne Secretary Defense and Admiral (Retd) Prof Jayantha Colombage, Foreign Secretary gracing various seminars organized by Indian Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard virtually as the Guest of Honour in Sri Lanka.

Contemporary topics of common security concern like Air Power for Strategic Gains in IOR, Building Collective Maritime Competence towards SAGAR and Collaborative Approach for Safe, Secure and Clean Seas in IOR were dwelt upon. The events were also graced by the presence of other defense dignitaries like Chief of Defence Staff/ Commander of Army, Commander of Air Force and the Director General Coast Guard. 

The guests of honor highlighted the strong bonds of friendship between India and Sri Lanka, the continued India’s assistance for fight against Covid 19, capability/ capacity building of Defence Forces and proactive response to various calamities in the IOR. The strategic location of Sri Lanka and the collective responsibility of the nations towards the continued availability of sea lines of communication, SAR and countering transnational crimes. The close cooperation achieved during the successful conduct of Op Sagar Aaraksha to counter fire onboard MT New Diamond, the Joint Exercise ‘Dosti’ and the vision of SAGAR was highly appreciated by the guests.  

The event was attended by about resident Defense Advisers and 120 personnel from Defense and local business community. In addition, four senior officers from Sri Lanka Defense forces including former Chief of Defense Staff Admiral (Retd) Ravendra Wijegunaratne attended the event at Bengaluru, India physically. The active participation of Sri Lanka in the event showcased the close defense cooperation and keen interest in Indian manufactured defense products.

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