Incentivize manufacturers and OEMs, says Sethi
The Government is targeting to develop 200 airports in next four years including airport, heliports, seaports and advanced landing grounds with private investors participation, according to Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola. Currently, India has over 100 operational airports.
“The unique feature in this would be inviting public private partnership. We had very successful PPPs and we are looking for more private investment which will make airports a hub of economic activity,” Kharola told the virtual session ‘The Future and Dynamics of Civil Aviation Sector: Making India an Aviation Hub’, organized by FICCI during the ‘Aero India 2021-13th Biennial International Exhibition & Conference’ on 3 Feb 2021.
Highlighting the potential of Indian aviation sector, he said that people now want to travel from point to point and is an opportunity for carriers. “We are working on the air services agreement to provide a level playing field to our carriers.”
In his addressing to the conference, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has highlighted the government’s vision of 2040 for making India an aviation hub. India’s aviation infrastructure has been benefited with recent upgrades in recent years and India has the capacity to develop effective infrastructure.
To fully realize its potential, the government is focusing on policies to add remote and regional areas to the map of Indian aviation, added Mr Puri.
Elaborating on the expansion of airports in the country, Puri said currently the helicopter potential in India is well below the potential of the country as large as India. There is a growing requirement of helicopters for civil use in tourism, mining, corporate travel, air ambulance, homeland security.
Similarly, efforts are on to establish India as an MRO hub. To promote MRO services, he said the government has taken many measures like reduction of GST on MRO services reduced. This will not only allow foreign partners to establish in India but benefit our Indian companies as well.
“India now stands poised to enter US$5 billion aircraft spares market in a significant way,” he added.
India will continue to grow as fastest growing market and we need to nurture innovation and start-ups and skill development, added Ashmita Sethi, Co-Chair, FICCI Civil Aviation Committee & President and Country Head, Pratt & Whitney India. “We should incentivize manufacturers and OEMs to scale-up in India,” she added.
COVID-19 has given an opportunity to India to turn into an international hub, observed Remi Maillard, Chairman, FICCI Civil Aviation Committee and President & MD, Airbus India.
“Indian carriers have a competitive advantage, and we must leverage to developing long haul flights,” he said.
“We have discovered that resilience is very important. We have never compromised on safety as aviation means safety,” he added. #projects #tenders #aviation #services #technology /fiinews.com
