The Indian government has just concluded a major ten-day military exercise with some 20 African countries, with the aim of strengthening its strategic ties with the continent. But also to increase its arms exports for those countries which cannot always access Western arms.
Helicopters, drones and guns… At the end of the Afindex military exercises conducted for ten days between India and 23 African countries, including Ethiopia, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa, the Indian arms industry deployed its paraphernalia on Wednesday March 29, reports our correspondent in New Delhi, Sebastien Farcis. The operation took place in Pune, the main manufacturing center for military equipment in the country.
India, which for years has been largest arms importer in market values, invests in local manufacturing, and opened its first helicopter factory in February. The country has injected billions into the sector in order to become less dependent on imports, especially from Russia. Another challenge: to strengthen its border with China, subject to tensions.
Less expensive equipment
New Delhi would now like to be able to export more, which could be of interest to Africa, because Indian weapons should be cheaper than Western ones. The country hopes, in the coming years, to more than double its annual arms exports and earn some 5 billion dollars against about 1.7 billion dollars currently.
According to an Indian industrialist quoted by Agence France-Presse, the commercial proposals to Africa mainly concern defensive equipment, such as armored vehicles, radars and telecommunications equipment. The Minister of Defense also pledged to share Indian expertise in manufacturing and research to help African countries develop their own industry.
(And with AFP)