Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today reiterated the government’s commitment to achieve 26 billion dollar defence industry by 2025.

Mr Singh was speaking at a business seminar ‘India Rising’, organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Bangkok, Thailand. He said, the defence sector has been given prominence under the Make in India initiative to reduce dependence on imports and make India a major defence manufacturing hub.

Mr Singh said India’s defence exports have grown almost six-fold in the last two years. The Minister said a 10-billion dollar investment in aerospace and defence goods and services is expected by 2025, which could provide employment to 20 to 30 lakh people.

Earlier, Rajnath Singh addressed the 6th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus). He called upon the international community to eliminate terrorist safe havens, disrupt their networks and financing and thwart their cross-border movement to ensure sustainable regional security.

Describing terrorism as the most heinous of cross-border crimes, Mr Singh said some States use terror to pursue political goals making regional security vulnerable.

Mr Singh said India’s Indo-Pacific vision is based on the idea of sustainable security as it focuses on a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific.