At the first high-level interaction between the defence ministry and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here on Thursday, it was decided that six task forces for partnership in research, production and marketing of military equipment will be set up.

The task forces will help in evolving a long-term relationship between the industry and defence ministry to convert ideas into realities, review the existing processes and procedures and formulate a simple approach policy. And at the end of 45 days, the task forces will submit their reports to defence minister George Fernandes.

Addressing a press conference, Fernandes stated that sanctions following the Pokhran nuclear tests had thrown open challenges to India which had to be met by everyone, including the industry. Responding to a query about how the government proposed to cope with denial of technology byforeign powers in certain areas, the minister said, "we have to find adequate response to these challenges."

The laboratories to be opened up to the private sector deal with dual technologies, bio-tech products and software engineering, the defence minister's scientific adviser and DRDO chief A P J Abdul Kalam said. As part of the 70 per cent self-reliance plans for defence systems by 2005, the government proposes to increase private sector involvement in defence design and production from 10 to 30 per cent, he added. Pointing out that New Delhi had always been denied technology for development of `Agni'and `Prithvi' missiles, Kalam said, "We have successfully faced the challenges and we even have our own supercomputers, which were also denied to us."

Identifying the specific areas the task forces would go into, CII president Rajesh Shah said they would evolve long-term partnership, review existing procedures and user effectiveness, examine ways for greater access to DRDO research, study existingcapacities of public, private and ordinance sector units, explore avenues for joint marketing and exports and develop information technology. While responding to questions, Fernandes and Shah said the task forces would also examine the commercial viability of defence production in the private sector and recommend measures to ensure that commercial interests are maintained.

On whether the government intended to export defence equipment to Third World countries, secretary (defence production) T S Vijayaraghavan said at present, ordnance and other exports stood at Rs 250 crore annually and the government expected the partnership with the private sector to give a boost in this direction.

Citing an example of dual use of military technology, Kalam said carbon-carbon composite products used in missiles, could also be converted to make light-weight calipers for polio patients.