UditVani, Jamshedpur : Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth on Friday said Jharkhand is well positioned to develop a defence manufacturing corridor, similar to those in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, provided the state government shows strong commitment and decisive leadership.
Speaking at the Defence Expo-cum-State Level MSME Conclave held at the Adityapur Auto Cluster, Seth said the state’s abundant mineral resources, established industrial base and diverse urban centres make it a natural candidate for a defence production ecosystem.
The two-day event is being organised jointly by the Adityapur Small Industries Association, Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Laghu Udyog Bharti.
Emphasising the importance of small and medium enterprises, the minister said India has nearly four crore MSMEs, but only a small fraction are currently engaged in defence manufacturing.
He said the Centre is encouraging greater participation of MSMEs and startups to strengthen self-reliance in defence, and Jharkhand could significantly benefit if it aligns with this national vision.
Seth said locations such as Jamshedpur, Ranchi and Bokaro have the capacity to host defence-related industries, but added that progress would depend on improvements in infrastructure, better road connectivity, a stable law-and-order situation and an efficient single-window clearance mechanism.
He expressed regret that the Chief Minister was not present at the conclave, noting that he had expected a clear policy signal on defence corridor development.
He remarked that while the state is pursuing investments overseas, uncertainty at home is causing concern among local investors.
The minister said creating a defence-friendly environment in Jharkhand is a key personal objective.
He noted that a series of initiatives, including defence expos, an air show and industry conclaves, have been organised over the past year to encourage defence manufacturing in the state, adding that contributing to national defence production is both an economic opportunity and a matter of pride.
Seth also raised concern over the kidnapping of young entrepreneur Kairav Gandhi, calling the incident disturbing for the industrial and business community.
He said such cases undermine confidence among investors and entrepreneurs, and urged the state government to ensure a safe and secure environment.
