Airbus keen to participate in ‘Make in India’ campaign

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 30

European aircraft maker Airbus today expressed its interest in participating in ‘Make in India’ programme in the area of defence and space.

The interest was expressed by Bernhard Gerwert, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, when he called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi here today.

Gerwert told Modi that Airbus was interested in becoming a partner in the ‘Make in India’ initiative, through a cluster approach with regional partners, according to a PMO statement.

Airbus Defence and Space is a division of Airbus Group responsible for defence and aerospace products and services.

During the meeting, Modi discussed with Gerwert various projects in India, in the aerospace, defence and civil aviation sectors.

Gerwert recalled the Prime Minister’s visit to the Airbus manufacturing facility in Toulouse in France in April and said it had generated “positive atmosphere and interest”.

During that visit, Airbus had announced that it would increase its Indian outsourcing to $2 billion.

In India, Airbus already operates two engineering centres — one focused on civil aviation and the other one defence — besides, a research and technology (R&T) centre which together employ over 400 highly qualified people.