New Delhi, October 13: India and the Czech Republic have agreed to strengthen defence industrial cooperation, with a focus on supporting domestic manufacturing under the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.
The agreement to deepen collaboration came during a meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the Czech Republic’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade, Karel Havlíček, in New Delhi on Tuesday. The leaders reviewed bilateral defence industrial ties and welcomed the progress of existing partnerships and joint ventures.
Both sides agreed to expand cooperation through the India-Czech Joint Defence Committee. In a social media post after the meeting, Singh expressed satisfaction with the progress and success of joint ventures and said further collaboration would support India’s efforts towards self-reliance.
Defence cooperation between the two countries dates back to an agreement signed in October 2003, following which the Joint Defence Committee was established. The committee provides a framework for discussions on bilateral defence cooperation.
Its seventh meeting took place in Prague on October 7, 2025, after a gap of five years. An Indian Ministry of Defence delegation led by Appavoo Anbarasu, Additional Secretary and Director General (Acquisition), participated in the discussions.
A joint defence industry seminar and an Industry Day followed on October 8, bringing together more than 60 representatives from Indian and Czech defence industries. A delegation of 30 Indian defence industry representatives travelled to Prague for the event. eoiprague.gov.in
Leave a Comment
