Edited by Deepali Verma
Bharat will not have to wait too long for a Boeing aircraft that is both designed and manufactured in the subcontinent, voiced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the inauguration of the plane maker’s engineering centre in Bengaluru on January 19.
The Boeing India Engineering and Technology Centre (BIETC) in Bengaluru happens to be the company’s largest facility outside of the US, that focuses on research and development.
At the event, which also had the presence of senior Boeing executives including Chief Operating Officer Stephanie Pope, PM Modi emphasised on the need to build an aircraft manufacturing ecosystem in Bharat. “There is so much potential in Bharat and we need to rapidly come up with an aircraft manufacturing ecosystem in the country,” PM Modi said.
“It is the appropriate time for Boeing and other international companies to align their growth with the rapid progress of Bharat. The commitment of 140 crore Bharatiya citizens has its focus on building a developed Bharat in the next 25 years,” said PM Modi.
“Having such an immense potential in Bharat, we must swiftly establish the aircraft manufacturing ecosystem. Bharat houses a large network of MSMEs along with a vast talent pool. Coupled with a stable government as well as a policy approach that urges ‘Make in India’, this facilitates a win-win situation for every sector. I strongly believe that the people won’t have to wait too long for Boeing’s first fully designed and manufactured aircraft in Bharat,” expressed the Prime Minister.
The construction of BIETC was carried out at a cost of ₹ 1,600 crore on a 43-acre plot at Hightech Defence and Aerospace Park in Devanahalli, located on the outskirts of Bengaluru. The facility holds the potential to become a cornerstone for partnerships with vibrant startups, and private and government ecosystems in Bharat.
Boeing has not provided the details on the number of people that the new facility will employ. Currently, Boeing extends employment to more than 6,000 people in Bharat across its various centres. The launch of Boeing Sukanya Programme was also carried out by PM Modi. It aims to support the entry of more girl children from across the country into the aviation sector.
The programme creates an opportunity for girls and women to learn critical skills in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields and provide adequate training for jobs in the aviation sector, reads the statement from Boeing.
“We are both honoured and privileged to support Prime Minister Modi’s transformative vision for Bharat, and we are thankful to have him dedicate the Boeing campus towards fostering aerospace innovation in the country,” said David L Calhoun, Boeing president and CEO.
Boeing has noted a surge in interest for its jets in Bharat, which is currently the world’s fastest-growing aviation market, where travel demands outstrip the supply of planes.
The aircraft manufacturer received orders for 150 737 MAX narrow-body jets on January 18 from Akasa Air, Bharat’s youngest carrier. An alliance also exists between Boeing and Tata Group to produce AH-64 Apache helicopter fuselages and 737 aircraft vertical fin structures.
