New Delhi, May 11 (KNN) The Defence Minister on Wednesday announced that it has waived off quality assurance (QA) charges under its administrative control for stores meant for exports.

This aims to promote ease of doing business and making Indian defence products more competitive in the global market.

The ministry provides proof/testing facility to the industry for their products through its various proof/testing establishments, but charges are levied by QA agencies as per fixed rates, which adversely affects the cost competitiveness of the products, the ministry said in a statement.

This will make defence products cost competitive in the global market, it added.

India’s defence exports which has been growing steadily over the years will get much-needed impetus with this latest move.

In the past few years, India has emerged as a significant exporter of defence equipment to countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Israel, among others.

But in comparison with major exporters like the US and Russia, India still lags behind and this decision is likely to give the country higher pace.  (KNN Bureau)