DBT Bureau
Pune, 29 Oct 2024
The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez jointly inaugurated the TATA Aircraft Complex for manufacturing C-295 aircraft at TATA Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) Campus in Vadodara, Gujarat. Both Prime Ministers also took a walkthrough of the exhibition showcased on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister remarked that it is the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez’s first visit to India and the partnership between the two countries is finding a new direction. Noting the inauguration of the TATA Aircraft Complex for manufacturing C-295 aircraft, the Prime Minister said that it would not only strengthen the relations between the two nations but also give momentum to the mission of ‘Make in India, Make for the World’. Prime Minister Modi conveyed his best wishes to the entire team of Airbus and TATA on the occasion. The Prime Minister also paid his tributes to Late Shri Ratan Tata ji.
The Prime Minister underlined that the factory of C295 aircraft is a reflection of the new work culture of New India and said that India’s speed from idea to the execution of any project in the country can be witnessed here. Recalling the foundation stone laying of the factory in October 2022, the Prime Minister said that the facility is now ready for production of C295 aircraft. Emphasizing the focus on eliminating unaccounted delays in the planning and execution of projects, the Prime Minister recalled the setting up of the Bombardier Train Coach manufacturing facility in Vadodara as the Chief Minister of Gujarat and said that the factory was ready in record time for production. “Metro Coaches made in this factory are being exported to other nations today”, he added. Prime Minister expressed confidence that the aircraft made in today’s inaugurated facility would also be exported.
Quoting the famous Spanish poet, Antonio Machado, the Prime Minister remarked that as we start treading towards the goal, the path towards the goal is created automatically. Noting that India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem was scaling new peaks now, PM Modi said that if concrete steps were not taken 10 years ago then it would have been impossible to reach this destination today. He added that a decade ago, the priority and identity of defence manufacturing were about import and none could imagine that defence manufacturing could take place on such a large scale in India. The Prime Minister remarked that the Government decided to walk on a new path, and set new goals for India, whose results are evident today.
The Prime Minister highlighted India’s transformation of the defense sector as a testament to effective planning and collaboration, which have turned possibilities into prosperity. The establishment of defense corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu has injected new energy into the sector, while the iDEX (Innovation for Defence Excellence) scheme has spurred the growth of around 1,000 defense startups in recent years. With defense exports increasing thirtyfold and reaching over 100 countries, the Prime Minister underscored the importance of skilling and job creation, particularly through initiatives like the Airbus-Tata factory, which will manufacture 18,000 aircraft parts and create thousands of jobs, thereby supporting indigenous manufacturing and offering significant opportunities for MSMEs across India.
The Prime Minister underlined that he was looking at the program beyond the manufacturing of transport aircraft. Highlighting the unprecedented growth and transformation of India’s aviation sector in the last decade, PM Modi remarked that India was providing air connectivity to hundreds of small cities in the country, while simultaneously working to make India a hub of aviation and MRO domain. He added that this ecosystem will also pave the way for Made in India civil aircraft in the future. Noting that various Indian airlines have ordered 1200 new aircraft, PM Modi said that this only meant the newly inaugurated factory will play a major role in designing to manufacturing civil aircraft to meet the needs of India and the world in the future.
Concluding the address, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that this event will inspire many new collaboration projects between India and Spain. He extended an invitation to the Spanish industry and innovators and encouraged them to come to India and become partners in the country’s development journey.
