THE WEEK-GRSE Sagar Sankalp | 'For us Aatmanirbhar is not just a policy, but a mandate': Baba Kalyani

The current global geopolitical situation, with an emphasis on the Middle East and Iran, portrays the need for strengthening indigenisation within India, including the shipping industry. 

“Little did we expect a few days ago to wake up to the war in the Middle East. That, as the United States President announced, may run into a few weeks or a few months, potentially causing heightened tension, disrupt global trades and world economies. In the past few weeks, prominent world leaders have observed that we are not going merely through a transition, but a rupture of the global war," noted Baba Kalyani, Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Forge, a supply chain partner to shipbuilding companies like Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers(GRSE).

“Today, even for buying oil, we have to seek permission from the US government," added Kalyani, emphasising the current times of profound global uncertainty where the lines between economic strength and national security are blurred and flaring up.

Kalyani quoted the Chief of Naval Staff while emphasising the need for indigenisation. “The road to Aatmanirbhar is a one-way street. For those of us in industry, this is not just a policy; it is a mandate." 

A large portion of building ships depends on the supply chain industry within the country. “It signifies that the era of buyers of mere technology is over. We are now entering the age of innovation, indigenous design and development, manufacturing, co-creation and co-development," said the CMD of Bharat Forge.

Despite India’s rich maritime history, in recent times, India has a long way to go to be significant in the global maritime map. “Today, less than 10 per cent of India’s seaborne trade is moving through Indian ships. In recent years, steps have been taken to revive India’s maritime capability. Overall investment of over Rs 80 lakh crore into the maritime domain as envisaged through the maritime policy is certainly a need for India to be in the top 5 nations by 2047," said Kalyani.

“India is geographically destined to be a maritime power. We were a maritime power," added the CMD of Bharat Forge, while being confident of India’s capabilities as part of an elite group of countries capable of designing warships and submarines.

“We are staring at the end of a globalisation era and the western economies are also now being forced to re-industrialise and rebuild their capabilities," said Kalyani while explaining that, in order to meet demands in an uncertain global situation of conflict, there is a need for middle economies to build sovereignty and strategic economies.

As part of its maritime roadmap, India is targeting a 200-ship navy with all its ships and equipment built indigenously.