The All India Rubber Industries Association organized an insightful webinar on "Opportunities in Rubber Component Procurement for the Defence Sector", with Major General Bimalendu Mohapatra, ADG, HQs DGQA. The webinar witnessed active participation from industry members seeking clarity on defence procurement processes and vendor participation opportunities.

The session focused on key aspects of participating in defence tenders through the GeM and JEM portals. Discussions covered important topics including MSME exemptions, pre-qualification requirements, vendor registration procedures, and emerging offset business opportunities for the Indian rubber industry.

Participants raised several practical concerns related to tender conditions, such as capacity verification clauses, access to technical drawings, and specification-related challenges. The webinar also provided valuable insights into the process of obtaining technical drawings and defence specifications, while emphasizing the proprietary and confidential nature of defence-related documents.

Industry members further expressed interest in organizing future Vendor Development Meetings (VDMs) in Delhi to enable direct interaction with defence procurement authorities and strengthen collaboration between the defence sector and the rubber industry.

The webinar served as an important platform for adopting awareness, addressing industry concerns, and exploring new business avenues in the growing defence manufacturing ecosystem.