The Uttar Pradesh Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop Uttar Pradesh as a hub of defence manufacturing by promoting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), start-ups and defence manufacturing units.

The MoU was signed by Sunil Mishra from SIDM and UPEIDA Chief Executive Officer Awanish Awasthi. The validity of the MoU will be three years and a DEFENCE platform will be jointly set up by UPEIDA and SIDM.

The UPEIDA CEO said the MoU had the potential of mobilising Investment of Rs 1,000 crore in defence manufacturing. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was likely to inaugurate the Aligarh node of the defence industrial corridor in UP.

Awasthi said the UPEIDA had also signed an agreement with Bharat Dynamics Limited for providing 250 acres of lands to the company at Jhansi node of the defence industrial corridor.

SIDM is a non-profit organisation advocacy group for promoting the defence manufacturing industries while UPEIDA is the nodal agency of the UP government for the development of the defence industrial corridor in UP.