Giving more support to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Make in India' campaign, American aviation major Boeing chairman James McNerney said that the company could assemble fighter planes and either the Apache or the Chinook defence helicopter in India. “Even (building a commercial aircraft wing or fuselage in India) is closer than you think,” McNerney said. Boeing, with the announcement, has become the biggest global company to commit to the 'Make in India' initiative.
Last month, Boeing had got a $3-billion contract for supplying 22 Apaches and 15 Chinooks to India. While finalising the chopper order, the defence ministry had said that contract will have a 30% offset clause and bring in business worth $1 billion for the Indian defence industry. “Make in India is a very important mission for the country. Over the last two to three decades, the capability of the Indian people has been obvious and clear. Modi's initiative takes up those capabilities two to three levels,” McNerney, who recently met Modi, said.
“Boeing sees this market as a civil aviation opportunity as conversion of only 1% of people travelling in trains to aviation can double the market size here. We are also looking at producing more fuel-efficient, green and longer-flying capable planes to bring down the cost of flying to attract more customers,” he said. “If the politics here allows this initiative, to continue with the same momentum that it has today, for the next five years, the goal of moving the manufacturing contribution to the economy from 14% to 25% is achievable. The capability is here.”
