Minister Sanjay Seth Highlights Future Prospects for AWEIL During Kolkata Visit

Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth, visited Kolkata to address senior officials at AWEIL and GSF, emphasizing the importance of improved performance and skill. He assured government support while promoting self-reliance and export growth in the defense sector.

Sanjay Seth, Minister of State, Ministry of Defence, on Wednesday addressed senior officials of Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL) and Gun and Shell Factory (GSF), Kashipur, during his first visit to Kolkata. He emphasized AWEIL's achievements and outlined its future prospects as a premier Defense Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU). Seth highlighted the necessity for improved performance, efficiency, and skills to remain competitive against both Government Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and private industries.

The minister assured continued government support for these initiatives. He urged AWEIL's workforce, which is skilled, qualified, and experienced, to maximize the use of human resources and collaborate with associated establishments to achieve success, aligning with the nation's aspirations. This visit underscores the Ministry of Defence's commitment to enhancing India's defense capabilities and promoting self-reliance in defense production.

Furthermore, the government aims to increase the export of defense products to strengthen the country's economic and global market presence. Current orders total Rs 9380 crores, with expectations to exceed Rs 10,000 crores by September 2024. Recorded sales for FY 2023-24 reached Rs 2018 crores, a 6.2% increase from Rs 1900 crores in the previous fiscal year, according to the Ministry of Defence. Export orders since corporatization are valued at Rs 615 crores, with demand for medium-caliber weapons, small arms, artillery gun parts, and ammunition hardware from countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and America.