“SEZs can be a bridge between Indian and global aerospace and defence industries via Startup India.”-Piyush Goyal ,Union Minister for Commerce and Industry 

Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, today visited the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) Aerospace Special Economic Zone (SEZ) located in Devanahalli, Bengaluru.

Speaking on the occasion,Piyush Goyal lauded the entrepreneurial community for making the country proud with their technical expertise, youthful enthusiasm and growing relevance of Indian aerospace and defence sectors.

He remarked that he is leaving the event energized. On the scope for collaboration between Indian and global aerospace industries through SEZ, the Union Minister said that although SEZs can be a bridge between Indian and global aerospace and defence industries via Startup India. He also highlighted that HAL played a big role in Indian aerospace sector and this aerospace SEZ will play a path-breaking role in the future.

The visit underscores the Government’s continued commitment to promoting advanced manufacturing and indigenous capabilities within India’s thriving aerospace and defence ecosystem. During the visit, the Minister toured production lines operated by leading domestic aerospace companies including Safran HAL Aircraft Engines Ltd (a Joint Venture between France based Safran Aircraft Engines and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.) and Innomech Aerospace Toolings Pvt Ltd. These units are engaged in high-precision manufacturing, avionics, and component design, showcasing India’s growing footprint in global aerospace supply chains. The Minister interacted with engineers, designers, and senior management of these enterprises, gaining firsthand insights into the state-of-the-art technologies being developed and deployed locally. He commended the technical sophistication, quality standards, and the spirit of innovation demonstrated by the companies operating within the SEZ.

Later, the Minister also held an interactive session with leading heads of the aerospace industry, reaffirming the government’s commitment to fostering the growth of the sector and strengthening indigenous capabilities. The meeting witnessed participation from both domestic and global aerospace companies operating in India such as Innomech Aerospace Toolings Pvt Ltd, CIM Tools Pvt Ltd, Safran HAL Aircraft Engines Ltd, WIPRO Enterprises Pvt Ltd., Goodrich Aerospace Services Pvt Ltd, Magellan Aerospace Pvt Ltd, SASMOS HET Technologies Ltd. etc.

Industry leaders extended their appreciation to the Minister for the proactive steps taken by the government to promote the aerospace sector including streamlined investment procedures, infrastructure development and policy support tailored to the sector’s needs. They highlighted the growing confidence among global partners in India’s aerospace ecosystem and expressed gratitude for the government’s consistent encouragement of indigenous companies. Several participants acknowledged the significant progress made under the government’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives, which have enabled domestic manufacturers to scale up capabilities and enter global supply chains.

The KIADB Aerospace SEZ, strategically located near Kempegowda International Airport, has emerged as a major hub for both civil and defence aerospace manufacturing. The SEZ manufactures & exports sub assembly parts for Aerospace & Allied Applications, Structural Components of Aircraft wings, Rocket component manufacturing assemblies, machined parts, test benches, embedded systems & avionics, aircraft engine pipes etc. to countries like USA, UK, Israel, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Morocco, Singapore, Italy, Poland etc,. It houses a mix of large-scale firms and MSMEs generating around 5000 jobs, technology transfer and export value to the tune of Rs. 5000 crores annually.

The Minister’s visit highlights the government’s intent to further catalyse the growth of aerospace and defence manufacturing clusters while enabling a robust ecosystem of R&D, innovation, and global collaboration. The Minister was accompanied by HAL Chairman -D K Sunil, Principal Secretary, Commerce and Industries GoK –  S. Selvakumar IAS, Joint Development Commissioner, Karnataka SEZs – P. Harish Varmaa IDES and Specified Officer, Karnataka SEZs –  G.A. Harshanand IRS.

Interactive Session of Industry Leaders with Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce & Industry,
Government of India.

Bengaluru, July 5, 2025:
Organized by: Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce & Industry,
Government of India in collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
Union Minister Piyush Goyal conducted a fruitful interaction with Industry Leaders, Startups & Deeptech
Innovators in Bengaluru, in the presence of  M.B. Patil,  Minister for Commerce & Industries and
Infrastructure, Government of Karnataka.
Highlighting India’s robust innovation framework,  Piyush Goyal emphasised on the government’s efforts in launching the ₹10,000 crore Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) supporting early and growth-stage deeptech startups; the ₹1 lakh crore Research & Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme, offering long-term, low-cost capital to private sector R&D offering long-term, low-cost capital through a dedicated Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV).

He also highlighted the remarkable resilience of India’s economy post-COVID, powered by
innovation, entrepreneurship, and robust policy support, which is now globally recognised. The rising global reputation of ‘Made in India’ products, driven by improvements in quality, design, and competitiveness, across sectors including electronics, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and textiles also stands testament to India’s growing economic stature. He also spoke about the importance of easing regulatory frameworks, expediting the process related to patents and trademarks to foster a business-friendly environment.
The session witnessed the participation of over 100+ key stakeholders, including prominent startup founders, industry leaders, deeptech innovators, venture capitalists and academia representatives. The event was jointly organized by Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

During the session, the efforts to strengthen the industrial landscape of India through the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme were presented by CEO, National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC).
During the interaction, industry stalwarts such as Mr. Kris Gopalakrishnan, Ms. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Ms.
Geetanjali Kirloskar, and Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty, among others, engaged in an insightful discussion moderated by Mr. Kamal Bali, Chairman (South), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

The dialogue highlighted India’s growing capabilities in product development and innovation, as exemplified during Operation Sindoor, and underscored the need to build on this momentum to scale India’s position as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem.
The event reaffirmed Government of India’s commitment to enabling inclusive, innovation-led growth and building a globally competitive industry ecosystem aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047