Goa Has Capacity To Become Defence Manufacturing Hub: CM Sawant

The coastal state has the potential to become a centre for defence production, generating jobs and strengthening India's defence capabilities, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Friday.

In his inaugural address to the 3rd Manohar Parrikar Memorial Lecture here, he stated that Goa's strategic location offers several advantages to key industries, including defence. With innovative strategies, Goa has the potential to become a centre for defence manufacturing, generating jobs while also strengthening India's defence capabilities, he said.

As part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives, the chief minister stated that the Union government is dedicated to encouraging self-reliance in defence manufacturing. To accomplish this, we need trained personnel, and we must concentrate on developing competent individuals at the operational level to effectively deploy, direct, review, and update the resource, he said. 

According to Sawant, the quality of the workforce is critical for the efficient use of technology and services.

Goa, with its advanced infrastructure and tailor-made demographic locations, has strong prospects of becoming India's logistic centre, he said, adding that the state already houses the Maritime Cluster, which is expected to create an additional 3,000 jobs. The infrastructure of Goa, which includes air, water and road connectivity, offers strategic advantages to India's defence sector. 

According to him, the naval station in Goa is strategically important for the Indian Navy because it serves as a forward operating base for its ships and submarines to monitor and patrol the Western Coast and the Arabian Sea.