ICCI keen for organizing expo with HIT to show export potential of defence products

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) here on Tuesday expressed its keen interest for organising a national level exhibition in collaboration with Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) to show the export potential of its defence products to foreign missions of various countries that would help in improving defence exports.

Interests to this effect was shown during a visit of delegation led by Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, President, ICCI to Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) to explore collaboration of the private sector with HIT’s commercial ventures.

Major General Syed Aamer Raza, HI(M), Chairman, Heavy Industries Taxila along with his team warmly welcomed the ICCI delegation and thanked them for visiting their facility.

He briefed the ICCI delegation about the HIT’s manufacturing capabilities. He said that HIT was part of Pakistan’s premier defence industry which was established in early 70s with an objective of rebuilding the existing tanks.

He said that over the last many decades, HIT has evolved into a large military industrial base and currently was involved in manufacturing, rebuilding, upgrading & developing hi-tech equipment like tanks, tank guns, armoured personnel carriers and other related equipment.

He said that HIT comprised six production units, an in-house development and component manufacturing facility and a leading research and development centre. He said that Tank Al-Khalid, the pride of Pakistan was its flagship product, which was recognized worldwide and formed the backbone of Pakistan Army’s mechanised force. He said that HIT was manufacturing many commercial products including armoured security vehicles like land rovers, land cruisers, portable shelters, steel structures, armoured guard posts, bullet proof rostrums, screens and others and it wanted to utilize surplus capacity of its factories to meet the requirements of civil sector and friendly countries.

He said that HIT was also interested to undertake JVs and commercial activities with friendly countries and encourage technology transfer, therefore, the private sector has good potential to join hands with HIT for producing various commercial products to meet the local needs and promote exports.

The ICCI delegation was taken to various manufacturing facilities of HIT including manufacturing factories, rebuild factories and support facilities and was shown its various products being manufactured in its facilities.

Speaking at the occasion, Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, President ICCI appreciated the contribution of HIT towards strengthening the country’s defence by manufacturing various defence related products.

He thanked Maj. Gen Syed Aamer Raza, Chairman HIT and his team for showing various manufacturing facilities to ICCI delegation and hoped that their visit would lead to setting up some JVs of private sector with HIT.

He said that the combination of the state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities of HIT and business acumen of the private sector would be instrumental in producing high quality and value added products and accelerate the pace of industrialization in the region.

Speaking on the occasion Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan said that HIT was on the road to modernization and cooperation of the private sector with it would promote indigenous industry and import substitutions.

He said that CPEC has provided a good opportunity to spur industrial growth in Pakistan and close collaboration between HIT and the ICCI would contribute towards better growth of industrialization in the region.

Fatma Azim Senior Vice President, Abdul Rehman Khan Vice President and other members of delegation also spoke at the occasion and discussed options for close collaboration between the private sector and HIT.