The CEOE and the Embassy of India in Spain organised in Madrid, as part of the celebrations marking the Spain–India Dual Year, the second edition of the seminar “The Indian Defence Industry: Opportunities for Spanish Companies”, on the occasion of the visit of an Indian delegation comprising the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM), the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor, and leading companies from the sector.
The Spain-India Council Foundation (FCEI) took part in the event, which brought together institutional, industry, and military representatives from both countries to identify opportunities for cooperation in manufacturing, research and development, and technological partnerships.
The opening remarks, delivered by the Ambassador of India to Spain, representatives from Spain's Secretariats of State for Trade and Defence, and the SIDM, highlighted the particularly favourable momentum in bilateral relations—reflected in the Prime Minister of Spain's visit to India and the progress of the EU–India trade agreement—and underscored India's transformation into a major defence manufacturing power, with domestic production approaching USD 21 billion and exports of around USD 4 billion, driven by the Make in India programme.
Industrial Capabilities and Cooperation Models
The technical sessions explored the sectors offering the greatest potential for collaboration—including unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and defence electronics—as well as the most suitable cooperation models, ranging from immediate co-production initiatives to medium-term joint ventures. Speakers also stressed the importance of integrating SMEs and start-ups into the supply chains of both countries, noting that they account for more than 70% of the sector's industrial base. The creation of bilateral digital platforms was also proposed to facilitate business connections and the secure exchange of information.
The Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor and Industry
A dedicated session presented the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor, one of the two major defence corridors established in India in 2018, featuring six strategic nodes, a single-window clearance system, and strong support for research and development.
During the subsequent business dialogue, our Trustee Airbus Defence and Space shared the lessons learned from the C-295 programme in India—the first private company authorised to manufacture military aircraft with military flight certification in the country. Indra, also a member of the FCEI Board of Trustees, presented its activities in the fields of defence, air traffic management, and military communications. Participating Indian companies identified collaboration with Spanish firms as an opportunity to develop products aimed at both the domestic market and third-country international markets.
With this second edition, the CEOE and the Embassy of India in Spain have consolidated this forum as a leading platform for industrial cooperation in the defence sector between the two countries, at a time of particularly strong momentum in bilateral relations.
