New Delhi, Aug 28 (KNN) Indian defence industry delegation consisting of 19-member is visiting London for three days from September 11 to enhance B2B engagements, reported Businessline. 

They will have working group meeting even as the Central government is still trying to allay British concerns over certain aspects of Defence Acquisition Policy (DAP) 2020.

Industry sources aware of the developments told businessline that during the second meeting of UK-India Joint Working Group (JWG), held in March in London, to enhance defence industrial collaboration, some of their companies representatives had flagged DAP issues such as such as on indigenous content under Indian Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured (Indian-IDDM), the most preferred category to process defence procurement. 

Besides that, they also showed reservation over 49 per cent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in case of IDDM procurements and Strategic Partnership (SP), supposed to be the route for manufacture of large platforms like aircraft, tanks and submarines. 

This, they were of the view, was the biggest hindrance to investments by British origin original equipment manufacturers.

Similarly, their articulation was also around IP protection and “March-in-Rights” of government of India. The UK India Business Council (UKIBC) had submitted “advocacy paper” to Ministry of Defence after the joint working group meeting but a “representation” from them on the same issue, sought by the government, is still to come despite the next joint working group will be held in London again on September 13.  (KNN Bureau)