Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today said the country’s defence exports will touch 50 thousand crore rupees by 2029 from the current 24 thousand crore rupees. He said the defence exports were merely 600 crore rupees 11 years ago and exuded confidence that the day is not far off when India becomes the factory of the world. The Defence Minister inaugurated the three-day Jain International Trade Organisation -JITO Connect Exhibition in Hyderabad in the presence of Union Coal Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said all sectors including the defence sector are moving in the direction of becoming Atma Nirbhar Bharat with an aim of achieve self-reliance. He said the Make in India programme has made it possible to use indigenous parts in the defence systems and 64 per cent of parts in the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft are made in India. Stating that the country is poised to become the third largest economy in the world by 2030, he said India is manufacturing everything- from toys to tanks under Make India Programme He affirmed that the government will take all measures for protecting its citizens for safeguarding its unity.