The Meerut Management Association (MMA), in collaboration with the Indian Industries Association (IIA), successfully organized a Special Leadership Talk on 12 December 2025 at Hotel Crystal Palace, Lalkurti, Meerut. The programme was addressed by Maj Gen Lalit Kapoor, VSM, Commander, Base Workshop Group, Indian Army, on the theme:

“Cross Domain Hybrid Leadership in a Dynamic Geo-Strategic World Order:
Scope for MSMEs to be a Partner in National Defence.”

The event witnessed participation from over 70 members, including leading industrialists, MSME entrepreneurs, professionals, and academicians from Meerut and the surrounding region.

Program Overview

Welcome & Opening

The programme commenced with a warm welcome to the Chief Guest, Maj Gen Lalit Kapoor, VSM, by Mr. S. P. Singh, President, Meerut Management Association, along with Mr. Ankit Singhal, President, IIA Meerut Chapter. In their remarks, they highlighted the relevance of the topic in the context of India’s growing focus on self-reliance and industry–defence collaboration.

Maj Gen Pankaj Kaushik (Retd.), Senior Vice President, MMA, formally introduced the speaker, outlining his distinguished military career and contributions to defence capability development and industry–academia engagement.

Highlights of the Address

In his address, Maj Gen Lalit Kapoor provided a comprehensive overview of the current global geopolitical scenario, emphasizing that evolving international dynamics make Aatmanirbhar Bharat a strategic necessity rather than an option.

He explained that the Indian Army is actively working towards self-reliance and that this objective can be achieved only through close synergy between the Armed Forces and indigenous industry, particularly MSMEs. He outlined the proactive outreach initiatives undertaken by the Indian Army to engage industry through structured interaction, transparent communication of defence requirements, and encouragement of joint R&D with academia and research institutions.

Maj Gen Kapoor sensitized participants about current defence equipment requirements and highlighted the online and offline platforms available at national and regional levels for industry engagement. He encouraged young entrepreneurs to confidently showcase their capabilities, reiterating that for quality defence products meeting requisite standards, there is no resource constraint.

Felicitation & Vote of Thanks

As a mark of appreciation, a memento was presented to the speaker by Mr. Trilok Anand, Director, Sanspareils Greenland Pvt. Ltd.

The vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. Anurag Agarwal, National Vice President, IIA and Vice President, MMA, who appreciated the collaborative efforts of MMA and IIA and acknowledged the active participation of members.

Conclusion

The programme concluded with a networking session followed by dinner, providing members an opportunity for informal interaction and exchange of ideas. The event was widely appreciated and set a new benchmark for MMA–IIA joint programs, reinforcing MMA’s role as a platform for meaningful industry engagement and knowledge sharing.

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