Visakhapatnam, February 23, 2026: The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) convened senior defence officials, policymakers, industry leaders and emerging start-ups at the ICC Defence Start-Up & Autonomous Systems Summit, underscoring the strategic and economic urgency of indigenisation in India’s defence sector.
Addressing the gathering, Sanjay Bhalla, AVSM, NM, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, highlighted the centrality of maritime security in the evolving Indo-Pacific order. He stressed that safeguarding maritime interests is intrinsically linked to India’s economic security, adding that a technologically advanced and modern Navy is critical to maintaining regional stability. He further emphasised that domestic defence manufacturing is not merely an economic preference but a strategic necessity to ensure long-term autonomy in defence preparedness.
Providing a broader policy and innovation perspective, G. Satheesh Reddy, President of the Aeronautical Society of India and Member of the National Security Advisory Board, spotlighted the growing role of states in strengthening India’s defence ecosystem. He noted that Andhra Pradesh possesses the infrastructure, industrial base and policy framework to significantly augment the country’s defence manufacturing capacity, adding that the future of aerospace and defence hinges on indigenous innovation and globally competitive domestic capabilities.
Highlighting the role of industry collaboration, P.R. Hari, Chairman of ICC’s National Expert Committee on Defence, Aerospace & Space and CMD of Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd, emphasised that MSMEs and start-ups are the innovation engines of the sector. He called for deeper partnerships between large public sector enterprises and emerging technology firms to accelerate modernisation and build a resilient, self-reliant defence ecosystem.
In his welcome address, Rajeev Singh, Director General of ICC, lauded the government’s indigenisation thrust under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. He observed that the policy push has unlocked unprecedented opportunities for Indian defence manufacturers and stressed that coordinated action between industry, policy and innovation stakeholders is essential to position India as a global defence manufacturing hub.
The summit drew participation from over 170 delegates, including senior officials from the Eastern Naval Command, and showcased 18 defence and drone start-ups. A knowledge report titled “Defence Production Powering Industrial Growth” was released, outlining the sector’s multiplier impact on industrial expansion and employment generation. A dedicated B2B support desk was also established to facilitate partnerships and address operational requirements of MSMEs and start-ups.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Gautam Nanda, Co-Chair of the ICC National Committee on Defence, Aerospace & Space and Partner, Business Consulting at Ernst & Young LLP.
The summit reaffirmed ICC’s commitment to fostering collaboration between government, industry and innovators, strengthening India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem and advancing the nation’s journey toward strategic autonomy.
