AVNL and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the conclave aims to enhance indigenization, vendor development, and collaboration between public and private players in the defence sector. More than 60 exhibitors from across India, including leading defence PSUs and private manufacturers, are participating.

Highlighting India’s growing domestic defence production, Dwivedi said Jabalpur is emerging as a major defence hub, housing four key manufacturing units. “The Vehicle Factory alone records an annual turnover of ₹4,000 crore, and upcoming projects will further integrate local industries into the supply chain,” he noted.

According to CGM Praveen Singh, the conclave focuses on five core objectives,developing a competitive supplier network, promoting Make in India under the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP), encouraging MSME and startup participation, improving industry-government coordination, and creating opportunities for Tier-II and Tier-III suppliers.

The event features panel discussions, B2B and B2G meetings, and technical workshops on quality standards, procurement processes, and innovation in defence manufacturing. Major participants include DRDO, BEML, BEL, Tata, Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, Toyota, Isuzu, and Force Motors.

Officials said the conclave reflects the government’s focus on building a self-sustaining defence ecosystem, positioning Jabalpur as a strategic node in India’s journey toward full-scale indigenous production and technological advancement in the sector.