Chennai, 7 Dec (KNN) A non for profit trust based in Chennai, Swatantra Foundation is organising a private sector defence related expo at Chennai Trade Centre from 18th to 20th January, 2022.

This event is supported by the Ministry of Defence - Department of Defence Production, Department of Science & Technology and Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM), as published in Hindu BusinessLine.

Empowering micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by bringing defence public sector undertakings, large buyers and MSMEs together is the main objective of this expo.

It will facilitate greater indigenisation of defence procurement to achieve the ‘Atmanirbhar’ goals of the Government of India.

Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) and Federation of Industry & Management Association are the co-hosts, and MCCI & TANSTIA are the other supporting organisations.

“This initiative by Swatantra Foundation gains a special significance for the first Defence Corridor in the state of TN promises to go a long way in highlighting the contributions of the MSME’s in the state to display their products, offerings and innovations,” Jayant Patil, President of SIDM and a member of the expo steering committee.

This event is approved by the Ministry of MSME through MSME-DC and Tamil Nadu Trade & Investment Promotion Bureau (MTIPB) which enables participating MSE exhibitors to get stall cost reimbursed.

Apart from the defence sector, it will also focus on the technology sector where the Department of Science & Technology has joined hands to support companies in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics segments.

Engineering & manufacturing, leather, services, food, rubber & clothing in the defence & aerospace domain and Robotics & AI will also be a significant part of this expo.

Approximately 400 exhibitors are expected to participate in the two-day event.