Telangana eyes global aerospace, defence hub tag

Hyderabad: IT and Industries Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu said that Telangana is working to strengthen its position as a leading aerospace and defence hub by building capabilities across the entire value chain, including design, engineering, quality testing, certification and research.

Addressing the national conference on ‘Non-Destructive Evaluation and Enabling Technologies (NDE–2026), organised by the Indian Society for Non-Destructive Testing (ISNT) at HITEX, Hyderabad, on Sunday, the minister said the state was looking beyond manufacturing to develop a comprehensive ecosystem that would enable local industries to compete in global markets.

He said the government was committed to strengthening the Made in Telangana brand and increasing the state's participation in global supply chains. Efforts were being made to connect local industries with global markets and help them tap the growing opportunities in the aerospace and defence sectors.

Highlighting the importance of Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE), Sridhar Babu said NDE professionals played a critical role in ensuring the safety, quality and reliability of aircraft, helicopters and other aerospace and defence equipment.

With advanced materials and emerging technologies transforming the manufacturing landscape, inspection and testing methods must also evolve, he said. The adoption of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Twins and advanced inspection techniques would be increasingly important in improving accuracy, quality and reliability.

The Minister said the demand for skilled NDE professionals was expected to grow in the coming years. The government was keen to equip Telangana's youth with industry-relevant skills and develop a workforce capable of meeting the requirements of emerging sectors.

He invited ISNT, industry representatives, universities and research institutions to work with the State government in strengthening the NDE ecosystem.

Responding positively to ISNT's proposal to establish an NDE Centre of Excellence in Hyderabad, Sridhar Babu asked the organisation to submit a detailed proposal for the government's consideration.

ISNT President Dr Jaitish R Joshi, NDE–2026 Chairman Surya Prakash Gajjala, Convenor Mohan P Nair and MIDHANI CMD Dr SVS Narayana Murthy, among others, attended the conference.

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Venkateshwarlu Kolishetty

Venkateshwarlu Kolishetty