New Delhi, May 21 (IANS): Stressing the importance of having a long-term defence strategy and vision for defence industry growth, former president A.P.J.Abdul Kalam on Thursday said the key need is to establish a military-industrial complex involving large private industries.

"The need of the hour is to establish a military-industry complex (MIC) at the national level enlisting large and medium industries to be partners along with defence PSUs (public sector units) as its members," Kalam said at an Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) event here.

"Establishment of MIC envisages not only the industrial development but also creates a number of job opportunities. This will pave way for knowledge workers to participate and contribute in the production of high-quality systems," he added.

Kalam, who has been a scientist and science administrator at the Defence Research and Development Organisation and Indian Space Research Organisation, further said that regulations and control procedures are to be implemented in managing private industries for manufacturing defence systems.

"Encouraging high technology tie-ups and joint ventures between Indian and other global defence industries will achieve not only competitiveness but also envisage the product for export," he said.

"India cannot afford to lose anymore time in pondering the issue," he added.