New Delhi, March 16 The government is making efforts to boost manufacturing activities in the country's fast-growing aerospace sector, and Indian companies are collaborating with foreign firms to set up facilities, Union Minister K Rammohan Naidu said on Monday.
Responding to a supplementary query during the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, the civil aviation minister highlighted joint ventures with Embraer and Sukhoi.
"Regarding investment in aviation manufacturing, we have taken it very seriously. And for the first time, I am happy to tell the House that Embraer, a Brazilian aircraft manufacturing company, has entered into a joint venture with an Indian manufacturing company."
"And we will soon start a final assembly line in the country, which will improve the manufacturing ecosystem," Naidu said. The minister pointed out that the aviation sector was not an easy sector to start the manufacturing process.
"Aircraft manufacturing is very complex, requiring precise engineering. And countries have been working on this project for many decades, and some have not been successful. That is why, when we look at the international level, only a few countries are able to manufacture aircraft today," Naidu said.
Under the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister, he said, the government strongly believes that anything is possible in this new India.
"We have collaborated with international companies. One, I mentioned Embraer. Also, the Russian Sukhoi people have also entered into an MoU with HAL to manufacture their SJ 100 super jet, which is also a 100-seater aircraft and very important for our regional connectivity," Naidu said.
Meanwhile, Embraer has partnered with Adani Defence & Aerospace and Brazil to set up a final assembly line in India for the E175 regional jets.
Currently, there are aircraft component manufacturing activities happening in the country.
Naidu stated that more manufacturing facilities are being set up, especially for the aviation and aerospace ecosystem. "And in the coming days, as we improve the aircraft components and also the final assembly line, we will see more investment come into this manufacturing sector," the minister said.