Swedish Defence Company Saab To Establish Manufacturing Plant In Gurgaon
Swedish defence manufacturer, Saab to establish the first manufacturing facility of the famous Carl-Gustaf Weapon System at Reliance’s MET City in Gurgaon. This will push India’s aspirations to become Aatmanirbhar in defence manufacturing as this will be India’s first 100 per cent FDI in defence.
The agreement between the two companies and subsequent ‘Ground Breaking’ by Saab FFVO India to start construction of the plant in Haryana also marks a new addition of the Defence sector to the already existing wide array of sectors operating from Reliance MET City, opening doors to new and expanding opportunities.
Reliance MET City hosts companies from nine different countries in various sectors including defence, engineering, electronics, auto components, medical devices FMCG, footwear, plastics, consumer products and others.
It accommodates six Japanese companies from electronics to auto-components to medical devices sectors. The city also has six companies from South Korea and multiple companies from Europe, including Sweden.
“We are deeply honoured to be the first global defence company to secure approval for 100 per cent foreign direct investment in India. Partnering with Reliance MET City to establish our manufacturing plant in India underscores our strong commitment to the Make in India initiative and our close collaboration with the Indian Defence Forces. We chose Reliance MET City due to its strategic location, well-developed infrastructure and availability of trained manpower,” said Mats Palmberg, Chairman and Managing Director of Saab India Technologies and Member of the BoD of Saab FFVO India.
SV Goyal, CEO and Whole Time Director, MET City, said, “We welcome Swedish company to Reliance MET City, Saab as India’s first 100 per cent FDI-approved defence manufacturer will not only strengthen our resolve for delivering best-in-class infrastructure but will also establish MET City as a preferred location for doing business for global companies. With its Plug-n-Play infrastructure, IGBC Platinum-rated certification and companies hailing from nine different countries, MET City has emerged as a premier business destination in India attracting companies from diverse sectors. It is a pioneering project in sustainable development, with over Rs 8,000 crore investment already committed. Presently, MET City holds licenses for over 2,200 acres, and the project has already employed more than 40,000 individuals.”
Vaibhav Mittal, VP and Head of Business Development at MET City said, “We are very excited to have a global defence manufacturer like Saab at MET City. With this MET City will now be visible across the globe as a key location for defence manufacturing thus paving the way for the overall growth of the region. As India becomes self-reliant in defence technologies, this plant will go a long way in being a pioneer for many others to follow.”