Swedish Security and Defence Industry (SOFF) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote co-operation between India and Sweden in public security and defence. The MoU was signed at the SOFF stand in Defence and Security Equipment international exhibition (DSEi), in London on September 15 2011. The signing took place prior to DSEi, where a number of Indian and Swedish defence companies and public security and defence representatives visited Stockholm as part of the CII delegation.
As per the MoU, both CII and SOFF will continuously be sharing and exchanging information, organizing trade missions and creating opportunities for collaboration among companies of the two countries in the areas of defence, aerospace and security.
SOFF spokesperson Mr. Jan Pie said, “India today is seeking to build a defence industry with private participation to confirm its ascendance as a global economic power with strong stake in maintaining peace and security. India’s gains through indigenous development have taken its defence capability to impressive levels. Collaboration between Indian and Swedish companies will help build a broad-based, research and development oriented security and defence industrial bridge, between India and Sweden. This will result in spin-offs into non-defence sectors as well.”
According to CII spokesperson, Mr. Gurpal Singh, “Sweden has a long experience in the defence sector, with innovative technologies and development platforms that are recognized on a global level. The Swedish Defence Industry has already been a partner to India and with this MoU we further strengthen our co-operation to be instrumental in the Indian development of an independent and indigenous defence industry.
Speaking on the ceremony of the MoU-signing, Mr. Jin Nilsson from Saab AB, a member of SOFF with large commitment to India’s defence industry, said, “Our commitment to India manifests through R&D investments, customised solutions and tailor-made offset projects. We are intensifying our operations in India with a long term perspective, contributing technological know-how to the Indian Defence Industry”
Welcoming the MoU, Mr. Inderjit Sial – Country Head, Saab India said, “The MoU signifies the commencement of a new chapter of collaboration between Indian and Swedish defence companies. We believe that continuous engagement would create multiple opportunities for mutually beneficial business and technology partnerships.”
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