Karnataka, February 13 : In the global sky, India has emerged as a star which is not only shining but also illuminating others with its glow, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday.

Singh was speaking at the 14th edition of the Aero India 2023, which was innagurated today at the  Air Force Station at Yelahanka in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

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Hailing the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said that India has emerged as a strong power in the last few years on the political and economic map of the world.

"Aero India is a showcase of aerospace that has two important characteristics - height and speed. These two qualities define the working and personality of the PM. Height of integrity and commitment for India, speed of decision making and delivering results," the defence minister said.

Underlining the vision and determination of Prime Minister Narendra Modi he said that India has become the fifth-largest economy in the world.

"India has become a great manufacturing destination due to its business-friendly environment, and cost-competitiveness. With the vision and determination of our Prime Minister, India has become the fifth-largest economy in the world," said Singh.

"Such huge participation is a testimony to the new confidence of the domestic and global business community in India's emerging business potential. I call upon all of you to be fellow travelers in India's journey toward becoming a defence manufacturing hub," he added.

The Minister highlighted that defence exports from India have increased ever since the government adopted the 'Atmanirbhar Scheme', or self-reliance programme, for the defence sector.

"Ever since we have accepted the commitment of self-reliant India since then the export of defence items in India has increased. We want to make India self-reliant, this is our resolution and we want to increase India's defence exports."

Singh said that over 75 friendly countries and more than 700 exhibitors will be part of the biggest-ever Aero-India Show in the country.

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The defence minister said that owing to India's resolve to promote self-reliance, the export of defence items has increased. "Karnataka has got the good fortune of organizing this. Karnataka is the foremost among the states contributing to the economic growth of our country. This state is known for its skilled human resource and robust defence manufacturing ecosystem," he said.