Homeland security market in India to double by 2018
The homeland security market is expected to expand from USD 8 billion (about Rs 368 billion) now to USD 13 billion (about Rs 598 billion) by 2014 with a significant opportunity for the private sector to participate, security experts and policy makers said today.
- (1888PressRelease) October 11, 2011 - By 2018, this market comprising of capital spend from government, private sector and some part of export demand is likely to be worth USD 16 billion (about Rs 736 billion), they said at the 4th edition of INDESEC conference-cum-expo organised by industry body Assocham and the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
``The government and industry should collaborate to upgrade and modernise security systems and communication networks,`` said M. Venkaiah Naidu, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs.
He said India`s homeland security is shaped by internal, regional and global factors. A porous border which needs fencing and the largely-unmanned 7,516 km coastline pose new challenges.
``We have cross-border terrorism in the north, insurgency by various militant groups in northeastern states and the Maoist insurgency throughout central India with varying shades of lethality,`` said Naidu. ``A combination of internal disturbances presents unprecedented challenges of an all-embracing security framework.``
Chairman of Assocham`s national defence council P.C. Bhasin said there is a plethora of state security agencies with a minimal ability to coordinate while dealing with these threats in an effective manner.
He said the government is gearing up for a long-term with an organised and targeted development of homeland security focused infrastructure. Vice Admiral (retd) Bhasin referred to the National Information Grid being set up by combining individual databases of several government agencies, and setting up of a crime and criminal tracking networks and systems.
Assocham secretary general D.S. Rawat said the homeland security sector employs more than 60 lakh workers and the number is projected to double in the next four to five years. He said the industry has already taken note of the potential growth opportunities.
Chairman of INDESEC advisory board D.R. Kaarthikeyan said India, Britain, Germany and France will emerge as the largest players in global homeland security market in the next ten years as opposed to the present situation where the United States continues to be a dominant player with nearly 35% of total procurement.
He called for a holistic expansion of the offset policy under Defence Procurement Procedure to include equipment for the homeland security sector besides improvement in overall governance and delivery systems of public goods and services.
Others present during inaugural session of the three-day exhibition were P. Balaji, vice-president of Ericsson India, Ateeq Rahman Khan, chief executive officer of Biostream Axxonsoft, M.P. Aggarwal, chairman and managing director of Shyam Telecom, S.D. Pradhan, former chairman of the task force on intelligence mechanism at the Prime Minister`s Office, and Nicky Mason, managing director of Informa Exhibitions India. Over 100 exhibitors from 25 countries are participating in the meet.
###
space
space
Satisfied Users & 
Approved Press Releases
Print
Email
Report Spam