 "Tata Motors signs pact with Maharashtra ex-servicemen body")
Tata Motors today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Maharashtra Ex-Servicemen Corporation or MESCO), for creation of employment opportunities for ex-servicemen of Indian Army. This is in response to Tata Motors solution for the Defence Ministry's prestigious $10 billion combat vehicle programme.
As one of the indigenisation partners for the development of Tata Motors FICV (Future Infantry Combat Vehicle), the MoU was signed at the ongoing DefExpo 2016 in Goa.
Ravi Pisharody, Executive Director, Commercial Vehicles, Tata Motors said, "Through this partnership, we will be even better positioned to involve the Small & Medium Scale Enterprises in defence equipment manufacturing and at the same time cater to the opportunities available right here in India."
MESCO, a Maharashtra government undertaking, of the Mahasainik Industrial Estate (MSIE), is India's first unique ex-servicemen industrial estate set-up in Pune in 2002, for the establishment and resettlement of ex-servicemen, with the moto of 'Service with Discipline'.
MESCO's objective is to provide reasonable employment to ex-servicemen of the state nearest to their homes, within their district by undertaking various commercial activities. Having bagged over 270 contracts, MESCO operates in thirty-four districts and employs over 11,000 ex-servicemen.
Tata Motors recently also signed a strategic agreement with Bharat Forge Limited (BFL) and General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) of the US, for the Defence Ministry's prestigious Future Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) program.
Tata Motors will lead the consortium, playing on its strengths related to Design, Development & Integration of mobility platforms, with Bharat Forge Limited as a partner, bringing on board its competence in local manufacturing.
General Dynamics Land Systems will bring in its much proven expertise in combat vehicle programs, as a SOSI (a system of systems integrator), enabling Tata Motors, the lead integrator, to offer a truly indigenous solution for this 'Make' (in India) programme.