DefExpo 2018: Nirmala Sitharaman lauds PM Modi’s efforts, says Defence production is a part of ‘Make in India’. Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said at the Defence Expo 2018 that 50% of the Defence Expo has Indian manufacturers and most of them are small and medium industries. She added, “The idea of promoting India as a defence and manufacturing hub is finding its first realization in this Defene Expo.