India showcased its growing defence manufacturing capabilities at the first-ever India Pavilion at World Defence Show (WDS) 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event aimed to highlight India’s increasing role as a global defence export hub.
Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth inaugurated the pavilion. He held discussions with Saudi Arabian officials to enhance cooperation between the armed forces of both nations.
Seth met with Dr Khaled bin Hussein Al-Biyari, assistant minister of defence for executive affairs, Saudi Arabia. They discussed strengthening engagement across their respective armed forces.
The minister also met with Dr Faleh bin Abdullah Al-Sulaiman, Governor of the Saudi Arabian General Authority for Defence Development (GADD). Seth highlighted India’s emergence as a global export hub.
He invited GADD officials to visit India’s R&D facilities. This is to explore opportunities for the co-development of defence technologies.
Seth further met with Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al-Ohali, Governor of the General Authority of Military Industries (GAMI). They discussed common areas of strategic cooperation. Strengthening the supply chain ecosystem of both countries was also a key topic.
Addressing Indian and Saudi defence companies at the Indian Embassy, Seth emphasized joint cooperation. This is crucial to achieve self-reliance in defence requirements.
“India’s commitment to global support under the ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ vision.”
The India Pavilion featured defence products from Indian Public Sector Undertakings and private companies. It served as a platform to demonstrate India’s advancements in defence manufacturing. The participation underscored India’s ambition to be a significant player in the international defence market. The event provided a venue for bilateral discussions and potential partnerships.
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