To expand the cooperation between India and the U.K. on sharing of advanced technology, the two countries are discussing ways to devise a government-to-government framework to facilitate transfer of such technology, said visiting U.K. Secretary of State for Defence Sir Michael Fallon on Wednesday.
“We have our exports controls, licensing system and I know that 99% of the license applications are granted. We are looking to further facilitate the transfer through a government-to-government framework…,” he said speaking at the India-UK strategic dialogue organised by the Observer Research Foundation and U.K. High Commission.
This is in line with the understanding reached between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Theresa May during her visit to India in November last year. This will be one of the specific areas of discussion under the Defence and International Security Partnership (DISP) agreed between the two countries in 2015 and will be taken up by the Defence Consultative Group (DCG).
Mr. Fallon said that U.K. sees India as a launch pad for British companies where “we can develop high-tech capabilities and sell them to third countries…”
Transfer of technology
“We are dead-serious on transfer of technology,” Mr. Fallon stressed. He also said that the U.K. can share valuable lessons with India in its attempts at defence reforms. He listed the appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff and the setting up of a new procurement agency as some of the areas. India can learn from our mistakes during such reforms, he added.
