COIMBATORE: With Defence Ministry announcing a grant of Rs. 20 crore for setting up a Defence Innovation Centre, a two-day Defence Indigenisation Expo’ would be held here on March 5 and 6 here.

Being the first of its kind expo in the region, this would be a platform for MSMEs to understand the products, the specifications, procurement policies, standards and other pre-requisites to become a vendor to the Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSU), Coimbatore District Small Industries Association (CODISSIA) President, Sundaram told reporters on Wednesday.

CODISSIA office bearers have since visited some DPSUs, such as BEL, BEML, HAL and Heavy Vehicles Factory, to know about the requirements and identify the capabilities of the MSMEs in the region, he said.

CODISSIA , being the nodal agency for setting up the centre, was not looking only on its members, but the entire community of entrepreneurs, including big corporates, he said.

Besides HAL, BEML, BEL, Goa Shipyard, Mazagon Dock Ordnance Factory Board, DRDO and three services – Indian Army, Navy and IAF would take part and showcase the components which need to be indigenised.