Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that the country remains committed to providing all the necessary support needed by the African countries to indigenously meet their defence needs.
"India has emerged as a leading defense exporter in recent years. A defense manufacturing ecosystem has been created here which has the advantage of abundant technical manpower. The Indian defense industry can work with you to fulfill your defense requirements," the minister stated at a conclave of India-Africa Army Chiefs held in Pune city, Maharashtra.
"With the aim to empower our African friends to indigenously meet their defense requirements, we are also committed to sharing our expertise and knowledge in defense manufacturing, research and development," he added.
Singh stressed that close cooperation between India and Africa in the areas of maritime security, and counter-terrorism, would be "essential" for ensuring peace and prosperity in the region.
The Indian Defense Minister opined that African states would have to become stronger to safeguard their interests and they could only achieve this by expanding their capabilities in the defense sector.
"Our training programs cover a wide range of areas, including counter-insurgency operations, peacekeeping, maritime security and specialized training in new domains such as cyber warfare and drone operations," Singh stated.
The minister's remarks came hours after Indian Army chief General Manoj Pande said that New Delhi was willing to assist African states in developing their defense industrial base.
Collaboration in defense manufacturing could prove to be a win-win situation for both India and its African partners, he noted.