The Tamil Nadu government is in the process of coming out with an exclusive aerospace and defence policy, aimed at achieving 30% share of the sector in the country and creating high-end employment opportunities for around one lakh persons in the State, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami said here on Thursday.
Delivering his speech at the two-day Defence Industry Development Meet here in the presence of Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Mr. Palaniswami requested her to consider establishing a manufacturing facility by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for Light Combat Aircraft (LCAs) and helicopters in Tamil Nadu in any suitable location and suggested Salem as a choice.
The Chief Minister also requested the Union Minister to set up a military aircraft MRO (Maintenance Repair Overhauling) MRO base at Sulur Air force Station in Coimbatore. The State government was focussing on establishing an MRO complex in Chennai, Advanced Computing and Design Engineering Centre and a multi-floor manufacturing complex in Aerospace and Defence Park, he said.
Mr. Palaniswami assured investors and vendors of assistance in getting land and other facilities, supply of power and single window clearance.
When asked about the Chief Minister’s request for HAL unit in Tamil Nadu at a press conference, Ms. Sitharaman said that the Ministry would consider the plea.
