Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday laid the foundation stone for the C-295 aircraft manufacturing facility at Vadodara. While addressing the gathering, Modi said that India will soon become a hub of aviation sectors.
"We are now progressing in all sectors. Vaccines made in India are saving millions of lives. India will become an aviation hub soon. We now have a new mindset and without it progress would not be possible," Modi said while speaking at the event.
"Today, India is one of the fastest-developing aviation sectors. We are soon to enter the list of the top 3 nations in terms of air traffic. In the coming 10-15yrs, India will require over 2000 passenger and cargo aircraft. This reflects how fast we'll be developing," said PM Modi.
PM Narendra Modi was felicitated and presented with a memento by Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel, Tata Sons chairperson N Chandrasekaran & urban executive vice president, in Vadodara, Gujarat.
"We accept, with humility and a great sense of responsibility, the trust and confidence that GoI has reposed in Airbus... together, we'll be delivering an aircraft that'll strengthen IAF and serve PM's vision of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'," said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer.
For the first time in the country, the foundation stone of an aircraft manufacturing facility is being laid by the private sector. It is certainly a matter of pride for the defence sector as well as for the entire country, said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
C-295 aircraft is a direct product of PM Modi's visionary Make In India policy, a policy that has encouraged my company, Airbus, to reimagine the way we do business in India... On avg, we'll deliver to India over 1 aircraft every week for the next 10yrs, said Christian Scherer, Airbus CCO
The facility, a consortium of European defence major Airbus and the Tata group, is the first such private-sector facility in the country and will build 40 transport planes for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The aircraft can be used for civilian purposes as well.
Besides, it will also manufacture additional aircraft for IAF requirements and exports, according to Defense Secretary Aramane Giridhar.
(With inputs from agencies)
