KOLKATA — Signaling a major push for regional industrial modernization, Cmde PR Hari, IN (Retd.), Chairman and Managing Director of Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. (GRSE), delivered a keynote address at the inaugural session of the 13th CII Manufacturing Conclave East 2026 at the ITC Royal Bengal.
The defense chief mapped out a strategic vision detailing how the defense manufacturing sector is actively transforming into a primary engine for high-tech industrial growth and economic progress across Eastern India.
Industrial Acceleration and Ecosystem Development
The CMD’s address highlighted the structural impact of advanced defense production on the broader manufacturing landscape:
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Empowering the MSME Network: Cmde Hari noted that the expanding defense production matrix provides vital anchor support for ancillary industries, heavily driving the growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and early-stage engineering startups.
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Tripartite Innovation Model: To elevate domestic capabilities onto the global stage, the GRSE chief advocated for a deeply integrated partnership linking corporate industry leaders, government policymakers, and academic centers to fast-track cutting-edge R&D and manufacturing efficiencies.
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Economic Subsidiarity: Beyond heavy ship construction, the defense sector was framed as a vital source of large-scale skilled employment and technical innovation, strengthening India’s self-reliance.
Macro Commitments: Concluding his address, Cmde Hari reinforced GRSE’s structural alignment with the union government’s long-term targets, emphasizing that a self-sufficient defense architecture is the foundational cornerstone required to realize the twin national visions of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat.
