April 16, 2005, SRINIVAS R (Financial Express)

Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), the premier defence PSU of India, has been looking at exports as a major growth avenue during the last couple of years. For 2004-05, BEL achieved exports of $12.72 million (around Rs 54 crore), a jump of 40% over the previous year’s figure of $9.08 million (around Rs 40 crore). For the current fiscal, BEL has order book worth $38 million (around Rs 170 crore) and BEL CMD Y Gopala Rao is aiming to export at least $20 million worth products.

“At BEL, exports have been a prime area of focus. There is considerable increase in the range of products that is being exported. In addition, many MNCs are using BEL’s expertise and facilities for design and manufacturing services,” says Mr Rao.

Some of the products that are being exported to other countries include radar, radar sub systems, defence communication equipment, microwave communication equipment, telecom equipment, electronic components and energy- saving products.

However, BEL has not made much progress in addressing the US market. The company has a tie-up with GE Medical Systems (GE-BEL as a separate company), through which BEL has exported X-ray parts to the US. For its defence products, the company exports its products to some of the European countries and those in the Asia Pacific. “Contract manufacturing for GE Medical Systems continues to be an area of growth on the export front, contributing around $6-8 million annually to the overall business,” claims Mr Rao.

Some of the equipment newly developed by BEL such as ground-to-air communication, battle field surveillance radar and fire control radar are being well received in the international market and hold promises for the future. Mr Rao says countries in the African continent, Middle East, South East Asia and SAARC are being targeted for exports.

Apart from defence equipment, BEL is looking at exporting civilian products to other countries. First in this line is supply of electronic voting machine (EVM). The company is exploring the possibilities of selling customised EVMs to Nigeria, Mauritius and Sri Lanka.