EIGHTEEN Indian defense companies are currently in the Philippines for the inaugural India-Philippines Defense Industry Seminar & Business-to-business Interactions.
These companies offer a range of products to the government, including defense vehicles, rocket launch systems, guided missile systems, body armor, high-caliber weapons, and more.
But their engagement in the Philippines extends beyond sales transactions.
These companies aim to transfer technology for local production of these items.
Among them is Bharat Dynamics Limited, an Indian company specializing in guided missile systems.
“We believe in creating long-term relationships, long-term friendly relationships. So, we don’t believe in just supplying items. We believe in creating infrastructure facilities within the Philippines in collaboration with a local partner,” said Ajay Bansal, International Business Head, Bharat Dynamics Limited.
“India has proven track record of trying to create India’s capability to develop indigenous technology and to broad-based that that into broader capacities. We are willing to offer our experience and our companies are willing to partner with relative Philippine entities to do these in a meaningful manner,” said Ambassador Shambhu Kumaran, Indian Embassy.
Marcos admin aims to advance Philippine Defense Industry
For the Department of National Defense (DND), the gathering of Indian defense companies in the Philippines presents a valuable opportunity not only to purchase their products but also to learn the manufacturing process.
According to Government Arsenal Director Gerry Amante, the current administration is pushing for the revival of the defense industry.
This initiative is seen as a significant opportunity for the Philippines.
“We are trying to gain the experience of the Indian defense industry for we can slowly indigenize portions of our defense material,” said Gerry Amante, Director, Government Arsenal, DND.
“We cannot keep on buying equipment because the money of the Philippines will go out of the country. We want to keep them in the country,” he added.
Amante shared that the Philippines aims to manufacture its own missiles, rockets, force protection equipment, and more advanced weapons and ammunition.
“We have the right minds here. We have bright Filipinos in the industry. Investors in fact. We have a lot of them locally. We can do it. We have absorbed the capacity for technology. We can develop our own technology,” he also added.
The Indian Embassy hopes that defense discussions between Indian and Philippine defense companies will continue in the future.
