Raksha Expo: Telangana aims to lead in aerospace and defence, says Bhatti Vikramarka

Hyderabad: Telangana is working to become a world-class industrial hub in the aerospace and defence sectors, Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka said. He listed investment security, uninterrupted power for industries, faster approvals, skill development for youth and international opportunities for local enterprises as the government’s priorities.

Bhatti was speaking at the Raksha Expo Curtain Raiser event at Taj Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad, held as part of the Invest Telangana Global Summit 2026. He invited industrialists and experts to take part in the Raksha Expo, which is scheduled for December 7, 8 and 9.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Ministers Captain N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and D. Sridhar Babu, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari, Dr Satheesh Reddy and Consul General Laura Williams attended the event. Senior officials, scientists and industrialists also took part.

The Deputy Chief Minister said the government is focused on attracting investments, creating jobs for local youth, strengthening small industries and prioritising skill development. He described reliable power, sound financial planning and transparent policies as essential for industrial growth. Investment announcements alone do not amount to development, he added. Their real benefits come only when they raise production, bring orders to local enterprises and create sustainable livelihoods for families.

Bhatti Vikramarka noted that even a small component in the aerospace sector could protect hundreds of lives. Passengers may not know which company made a part, but their safety rests on trust in its quality, he observed. He said the same principle applies to public life, where systems that discharge their duties diligently build credibility even without recognition or applause.

To lead in aerospace and defence, the government must work with the same precision and discipline, he said. Industrial manufacturing often demands measurements at the micron level, he pointed out. Uncertainty over approvals, payments and electricity connections could undo months of production work, so government services must reach industries swiftly and reliably, he stressed.

Grid, storage and renewable energy plans for industry

As the Minister in charge of Finance, Planning and Energy, Bhatti Vikramarka said he sees coordination among the three areas as crucial for industrial development. Industry needs sound, predictable financial policies and a reliable system of uninterrupted power, he said. The government is drawing up plans to expand renewable energy sources, strengthen the electricity grid and develop energy storage systems.

He said higher solar generation capacity alone is not enough. Industries must also get dependable electricity when they need it, in line with their production schedules. He called for the same discipline in spending public funds, noting that every subsidy and incentive carries a financial cost. The government must clearly explain the public benefit of the support it gives industries, he said.

The true measure of development, he said, is how far investments raise production, improve skills, open business opportunities for local enterprises and create jobs for families. Every individual has talent, he noted, but not everyone gets an equal chance to show it. A young woman studying at a government college could also become an outstanding aerospace technician, he said.

To unlock such potential, young people need training on modern equipment, apprenticeships and encouragement from employers who recognise talent, he said. Under Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s leadership, the state provides skill training through the Skills University and Advanced Technology Centres, and he urged industries to support these efforts. A first training opportunity and first job can change a young person’s life and improve their family’s economic situation, he added.

The Deputy CM appealed to industrialists to give special weight to apprenticeships and local suppliers in their future investment plans. He urged them to help small-scale industries improve their capabilities and meet quality standards, while offering young people their first professional experience. He also called for greater focus on research, design and the ability to acquire and apply advanced technologies, alongside expanding manufacturing capacity.

For the industrial ecosystem to stay strong over the long term, local communities must keep building their knowledge and skills and pass that expertise on to future generations, he said. He encouraged Raksha Expo participants to share suggestions freely on government policies and on where administrative systems could improve. He also urged them to explore partnerships that could last beyond the exhibition.

Decisions taken at the event could create a first job for a young man or woman who was not even at the meeting, Bhatti Vikramarka said, and he called on all stakeholders to work together to make such opportunities real. He congratulated Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, who is overseeing the Raksha Expo and bringing leading industrialists onto a common platform, along with Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu and the Chief Secretary.

He reiterated that, in line with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s vision, the government aims to attract industries to Telangana and build a favourable investment climate. It also seeks to use Hyderabad’s world-class infrastructure, talent and skilled workforce to strengthen the state’s position as a global industrial destination, he said.