India, May 24 -- Union defence minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said India would emerge as the world's largest arms exporter in the next 25 to 30 years as the country strengthens indigenous defence manufacturing and expands private sector participation.

Singh was addressing a gathering at Shirdi in Ahilyanagar district after inaugurating a defence manufacturing complex set up by Nibe Limited at the local industrial estate. Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan were among those present at the event.

The facility will manufacture advanced artillery systems, missiles, rocket systems, drones and space technologies. Singh also flagged off the country's first 300-km universal rocket launching s...