Inviting Vietnam to become a part of India's defence industrial transformation through enhanced cooperation, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh handed over 12 High Speed Guard Boats to the Southeast Asian country during his visit to Hong Ha Shipyard in Hai Phong today.
The boats have been constructed under the Indian government's $US 100 million Defence Line of Credit to Vietnam. The initial five boats were built in the Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Shipyard in India and the other seven in Hong Ha shipyard. Senior civil and military officials of India and Vietnam were present during the handing-over ceremony.
Singh described the project as a glowing example of ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that the successful completion of the project, despite the challenges due to Covid-19 pandemic, is a testimonial to the commitment and professional excellence of the Indian defence manufacturing sector as also of Hong Ha Shipyard. He also exuded confidence that the project will be a precursor to many more cooperative defence projects between India and Vietnam in future.
The Indian defence industry has substantially increased its capabilities under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ mission.
Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh presided the handing over ceremony of 12 High Speed Guard Boats constructed under the Government of India’s $US 100 million Defence Line of Credit to #Vietnam, today. @AmbHanoi pic.twitter.com/OF854gftov
— A. Bharat Bhushan Babu (@SpokespersonMoD) June 9, 2022
The Indian Defence Minister stressed that the objective is to build a domestic industry in order to make India a defence manufacturing hub which not only caters to the domestic needs, but also fulfills international requirements.
As reported by IndiaNarrative.com, Singh had bilateral talks with Vietnam’s Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang in Hanoi on Wednesday.
He had also called on President of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh after both sides signed a ‘Joint Vision Statement on India-Vietnam Defence Partnership towards 2030’ to enhance defence cooperation. An MoU to simplify procedures for mutually beneficial logistic support was also inked between the two countries.
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