India, July 1 -- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said Gujarat can potentially emerge as a major hub for defence manufacturing and technology and play a pivotal role in India's journey towards self-reliance through its industrial strength, skilled workforce and entrepreneurial spirit.

Addressing the valedictory function of the 4th Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) for the central Gujarat region, Singh said India has made significant strides in defence production and exports over the past decade, but "still has a long way to go" in achieving complete self-reliance.

He said India's domestic defence production has increased from around Rs 46,000 crore in 2014 to about Rs 1.78 lakh crore, while defence exports have grown f...