Gandhinagar, March 16 Over the past decade, India has emerged as a vibrant hub of innovation in the defence and security ecosystem, and is today investing in next-generation technology, transforming the way defence solutions are conceived and developed, Union Minister Rajnath Singh said here on Monday.
Virtually addressing a two-day roundtable conference for defence attaches at the Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) here, Singh said India understands that technological progress cannot flourish in isolation.
The two-day conclave, on the theme 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat in the Global Defence Tech Landscape: Accelerating Innovation, Exports, and Joint Technology Partnerships', brings together diplomats and defence representatives from 24 nations, including from Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and the Caribbean.
"Over the past decade, India has emerged as a vibrant hub of innovation in the defence and security ecosystem. Guided by the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, our approach seeks to build self-reliance while remaining globally connected," Singh said in his welcome address.
"India today is investing in next-generation technology, from Artificial Intelligence and unmanned systems to space and advanced digital capabilities, transforming the way defence solutions are conceived and developed," he added.
Asserting that technological progress cannot flourish in isolation, he said the evolving nature of warfare, from cyber space domains to hybrid threats, underscores the need for deeper international cooperation.
Singh said India firmly believes that sustainable security is built through partnership, co-development, knowledge sharing, training, and collaborative capability building.
"India's expanding network of defence engagements across regions reflects this belief," he pointed out.
Singh said India is using dialogue, joint exercises, and industrial cooperation to work with partners to promote a secure, open, and inclusive international order.
"This forum brings together strategic minds and trusted partners who share a common commitment to peace, stability, and progress through defence cooperation. Their presence reflects the spirit of trust and friendship that lies at the heart of India's engagement with the international community," he said.
Singh said the roundtable reflects India's enduring commitment to dialogue, innovation, and partnership in the defence and security domain, adding that collaboration has become not merely desirable but essential in an era marked by rapid technological change and evolving security challenges.
Highlighting the importance of the defence attachés community, Singh said that it plays a vital role, serving as a bridge between the military, government, and the defence industry, and strengthening the foundations of global security cooperation.
"Guided by the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India aspires to be a 'vishwa mitra', a trusted friend and partner to the world," he added.