Odisha MSMEs See ₹2,000-Crore Opportunity in Defence and Aerospace
Seminar highlights scope for research, production, and global collaborations
Bhubaneswar: Odisha has the potential to generate annual business worth around ₹2,000 crore in the defence and aerospace sector, experts said at a seminar jointly organized by the Odisha Small and Medium Industries (OSMI) in collaboration with the Ministry of MSME. The event aimed at exploring opportunities for local enterprises in defence procurement, research and development, and advanced manufacturing.
The seminar was attended by leading figures from national defence establishments. Subodh Kumar Nayak, Director of the Proof and Experimental Establishment of DRDO Chandipur, highlighted the crucial role of small and medium enterprises in supplying equipment and contributing to research. Similarly, Subodh Kumar Sahu, Chief Manager (IMM-Project) of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Koraput, emphasized the growing need for local partnerships in defence manufacturing. Tapan Kumar Jena, Junior Works Manager of the Ordnance Factory at Badamal, Balangir, also outlined opportunities for MSMEs in ammunition production.
Call for Global-Standard Production
Dr. S.K. Kar, Quality Head of CTTC Bhubaneswar, stressed the importance of adhering to international standards in production to remain competitive in the global defence supply chain. He pointed out that quality certification and compliance would be key for Odisha-based MSMEs to secure larger contracts.
Dr. S.N. Nayak and P.K. Gupta from MSME-DFO discussed the financial incentives available for small enterprises venturing into the defence and aerospace sector. They highlighted government schemes that offer subsidies, credit support, and technology upgradation assistance to help industries scale up for defence-related projects.
India-Israel Collaboration a Boost
Adding an international dimension to the seminar, Maya Sermon, Innovation Attaché at the Embassy of Israel, underlined the growing partnership between India and Israel in defence technology. She mentioned that joint research, development, and co-production initiatives are opening new doors for Indian enterprises. “Odisha’s MSMEs can play a vital role in this journey by supplying components and collaborating in innovation-driven projects,” she said.
Opportunities for Odisha Entrepreneurs
Speakers at the event agreed that Odisha’s industrial ecosystem, especially in engineering clusters, is well-positioned to benefit from this emerging market. Jayaprakash Bishwal and Sandeep Kumar Raut from the Accurate Engineering Cluster also joined the seminar, highlighting local success stories and the readiness of Odisha-based enterprises to take on defence-related assignments.
With growing demand for indigenous defence manufacturing under the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” mission, Odisha’s MSMEs have a significant window of opportunity. The seminar concluded with a call for stronger industry–government collaboration, investment in R\&D, and skill development initiatives to enable local enterprises to scale up for the defence and aerospace sectors.
