New Delhi. In a move to boost the defence sector, the government has taken a number of steps to promote defence exports, including reduction in the time taken for issuing export authorisations, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told Lok Sabha on December 11.

He said self-reliance in defence production to meet the requirement of the armed forces was imperative from both strategic and economic perspectives.

“Several steps have been taken to promote defence exports, including reduction in the time taken for issuing export authorisations,” he said during the Question Hour.

The minister said these platforms or equipment were exported or supplied to the friendly foreign countries (FFCs) either on commercial terms or by following the lines of credit.

“In view of the strategic sensitivities involved, it is not desirable to disclose the list of such countries,” he said.