US aircraft manufacturer Boeingis open to picking up a stake in an Indian aerospace company, its India head said Saturday. “We are open to it. The investment environment in India has improved,†said Pratyush Kumar, President, Boeing India.
Kumar added however that a strategic partnership in this space would entail a host of regulatory approvals. He didn’t elaborate on whether Boeing is in talks with any aerospace company in India.A strategic partnership would considerably expand the manufacturer’s role and involvement in India’s aerospace industry, apart from developing Narendra Modi’s Make in India initiative. Boeing primarily has sourcing or technology sharing relationships with companies in India.
The company currently has about 160 planes flying in India, including 21 787 Dreamlinerplanes with Air India. It has delivered 10 C-17 Globemaster strategic airlifters and seven P8I maritime surveillance and anti-submarine aircraft to India’s defence forces.
The company has around 500 employees and more than 2,000 employees work on dedicated supply-chain jobs with its 18 suppliers across manufacturing, engineering and IT sectors.It has collaborations with companies such as Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., Bharat Electronics Ltd., Tata Group, Bharat Forge, L&T, Dynmatic Technologies, Wipro, Infosys,HCL Technologies and Infotech Enterprises.
It recently signed a framework agreement with Tata Advanced Systems to collaborate in aerospace and defence manufacturing and potential integrated systems development opportunities, including unmanned aerial vehicles.
Source from India Defence News.
