From Ajay Kaul
Toulouse (France)

French aerospace major Airbus today said it would increase its Indian outsourcing to USD 2 billion as it expressed keenness to manufacture in India when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited its facility here.

Modi toured the facility where planes are manufactured.

He was given a briefing by officials on the functioning.

Airbus Group CEO Tom Enders, who received the Indian leader, said: “We are honoured to host Prime Minister Modi in Toulouse and convey to him our desire to forge a stronger industrial bond with India. India already takes a centre-stage role in our international activities and we want to even increase its contribution to our products.”

“We support Prime Minister Modi’s ‘Make in India’ call and (we) are ready to manufacture in India, for India and the world,” he added.

Earlier, MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin tweeted, “500 per cent increase in 5 years. @Airbus to PM @narendramodi : Indian outsourcing to increase from USD 400 mil to USD 2 billion.”

In India, Airbus Group 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.

The group’s senior representative conveyed their decision to expand these centres so that they can take on comprehensive design responsibilities for future Airbus group programmes.

Modi was accompanied by French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius to the facility. Fabius told reporters that India “offers very important prospects…The fact the prime minister is here and that relations are excellent is very positive.”

“Economic diplomacy works: the Rafale order shows this,” Fabius said.

– PTI