Defence experts, equipment manufacturers, investors, researchers and army personnel, among others, are expected to attend an one-day conclave on opportunities for defence manufacturing in Odisha to be held at the Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University (SOA) here on October 5.

The conclave has been titled ‘Mission: Make in Odisha for Defence Industry—Opportunities Galore’.

Organised jointly by Odisha Corporate Foundation (OCF), SOA and SOA Centre for Innovation and Incubation (SOA-CII), the objective of the conclave is to bring entrepreneurs and industry professionals on a single platform, Brig. L.C. Pattnaik, Advisor, OCF told a news conference here on Friday.

This event will reflect the state’s ambition to strengthen national security while promoting economic growth and job creation, he said.

Stating that Odisha had immense potential to develop defence manufacturing due to abundant availability of strategic raw material, available infrastructure, skilled manpower and export facilities, he said though the state government had laid down exhaustive policy on defence and aerospace, the pace of defence manufacturing had made little progress in the state.

This sector has immense opportunities for employment generation and development of human index around areas of proposed military industrial clusters, Brig. Pattnaik said.

The key elements of the conclave will include indigenous excellence by empowering local talent and showcasing the ability of Odisha’s skilled workforce to innovate and produce world class defence equipment, promotion of innovative ideas, highlighting the cutting edge technology and research initiatives spearheaded in Odisha and promotion of partnerships between government, private sector and academia to enhance research and development and production capabilities, he said.

It will also focus Odisha as a competitive player in the global defence market to attract foreign investment.

Odisha, at present, was the highest producer of aluminium, steel and stainless steel in the country with large mother units producing defence grade products for use. The state’s 480-km long coastline dotted by deep water ports at Paradip, Dhamra and Gopalpur has the potential to ensure substantial savings on the logistics and transportation costs, he said.

The presence of Integrated Test Range (ITR) and Proof and Experimental Extablishment (PXE) at Chandipur provides ready ecosystem for testing of military equipment. The defence manufacturing establishments in the state include engine manufacturing division of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at Sunabeda and Ordnance Factory at Balangir which provide ready market for ancillary and component suppliers to set up units in the state.

Besides, the existence of Central Tool Room and Training Centre (CTTC), a prominent training, production, design and consultancy centre at Bhubaneswar, completes the ecosystem by facilitating specialized tools and precision components as well as specialized trained and skilled manpower required by the industry, Brig. Pattnaik said.

CTTC had played a key role in supplying various components to important projects of national significance such as the Light Combat Aircraft as also the ‘Mangalyaan’ and ‘Chandrayan’ missions.

Maj. Gen. (Retd) R.C. Padhi, AVM (Retd) M.Mohanta, Col (Dr.) P.C.Pattnaik, Ms. Ushashi Rath, Chairman of the Women’s Wing of OCF and Mr. Pramod Kumar Satpathy, Advisor cum Executive Director, OCF were present at the media briefing.