Gandhinagar: The Gujarat govt has begun the process of creating a new special purpose vehicle (SPV) to set up a testing laboratory and related facilities aimed at strengthening the state’s role in defence manufacturing.
The facility is intended to function as a full-time bridge between local industries and the country’s defence forces.The industry & mines department has allocated a dedicated budget for the SPV, which is expected to boost defence supply production in the state.Mamta Verma, additional chief secretary, industry & mines, said Gujarat’s MSMEs and other industries already supply equipment to the armed forces, but the state’s potential remains largely untapped across the Army, Navy and Air Force.
She said a detailed study revealed that despite adequate capacity, local industries often miss opportunities due to limited access to defence establishments and gaps in technical knowledge. The new laboratory will test and certify products developed by local units, while also providing training on defence procurement requirements.Verma added that govt plans to introduce special incentives for MSMEs under the upcoming industrial and defence & aerospace policies. Industry-defence connect initiatives will also be launched to help defence forces outline their needs, enabling local manufacturers to develop and supply suitable products.
