India To Launch ‘Open General Export License’ Scheme To Boost Defense Exports

In an effort to ameliorate the country’s defense export figures, the Indian Ministry of Defense (MoD) plans to launch “Open General Export License” scheme in a month’s time.

“We are working on launching the Open General Export License, where the entire process of taking permission from government will also be further reduced,” Mr Sanjay Jaju, JS (DIP), Department of Defence Production, India’s MoD, said during ‘Workshop for Defence Export Promotion’ organised by FICCI at New Delhi on Monday.

“It will enable the defense industry to access international market and make our products more competitive,” Jaju added.

According to Jaju, Indian exporters need to diversify the product line to be internationally competitive. “It is important for us to now look at platforms and while looking at these platforms, it is important that we are competitive and able to provide good value for money to the buyer,” he explained.

“The Indian defence industry is currently undergoing through a tectonic phase. Demand side is moving much faster and the catch-up between demand and production is not happening. Given the policy level changes happened over last 5 years, next decade is going to turn the tides,” Rear Admiral Atul Khanna, Additional Director General Quality Assurance (Naval), DGQA, India’s MoD, noted.