Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Safran Aircraft Engine Services India (SAESI) facility located at the GMR Aerospace and Industrial Park – SEZ, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad via video conferencing today. Addressing the occasion, the Prime Minister highlighted, “from today India’s aviation sector is taking a new flight. Safran’s new facility will help establish India as a Global Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) Hub”. The Prime Minister underlined that this MRO facility will also create new opportunities for youth in the high-tech aerospace sector. He recalled that he had met the Safran Board and Management on 24th November, and noted that in every discussion with them earlier too, he witnessed their confidence and hope regarding India. He expressed his expectation that Safran’s investment in India will continue at the same pace. Extending his best wishes, the Prime Minister conveyed congratulations to Team Safran for this new facility.
Highlighting that in recent years India’s aviation sector has advanced at an unprecedented pace, PM Modi remarked that today India is among the fastest growing domestic aviation markets in the world. He underlined that India’s domestic aviation market has now become the third largest globally. The Prime Minister observed that the aspirations of the people of India are reaching new heights, and consequently the demand for air travel in the country continues to rise. He noted that airlines are consistently expanding their active fleet to meet this demand. He further stated that Indian airline companies have placed orders for more than 1,500 new aircraft.
Underlining that with the rapid expansion of India’s aviation sector, the need for MRO facilities has also increased, PM Modi remarked that nearly 85 percent of India’s MRO work has been taking place outside the country, which led to higher costs, longer turnaround times, and aircraft remaining grounded for extended periods. He underlined that such a situation was not suitable for a vast aviation market like India. Therefore, he stated that today the Government of India is developing the nation as one of the world’s major MRO hubs. PM Modi further remarked that for the first time, a global OEM is establishing Deep Level Servicing facilities in the country.
Highlighting that Safran’s global training, knowledge transfer, and partnership with Indian institutions will help create a workforce that will, in the coming years, give new momentum and direction to the entire MRO ecosystem, the Prime Minister underlined that this facility will generate numerous employment opportunities for the youth of South India. He further stated that India does not want to remain limited to aviation MRO alone, and is also working on a large scale to develop an MRO ecosystem connected with shipping.
Source and read More: PIB
