Airbus tells PM Narendra Modi it's ready to Make in India, will hike outsourcing kitty to $2 billion

NEW DELHI: Aircraft maker Airbus Industrie has assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi that its outsourcing from India will increase to $2 billion from $ 400 million over the next five years as part of the Indian government’s Make in India initiative.

This was conveyed to Modi during his tour of the Airbus headquarters on Saturday in Toulouse, in southern France, where he flew down from Paris. Modi arrived in France on Thursday night on the first leg of his three-nation tour, which will also take him to Germany and Canada.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin tweeted: “500% increase in 5 years. @Airbus to PMA @narendramodi : Indian outsourcing to increase from $400 mil to $2 billion.” “Make in India gains further momentum. $2 billion cumulative outsourcing planned by @Airbus from India by 2020,” he posted.

Accompanied by French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, Modi took a tour of the Airbus A 380 Assembly Line Facility in Toulouse.

Airbus Group CEO Tom Enders, who received Modi, 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.

In India, Airbus Group 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 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.