The Hindu Business Line : Foreign cos show interest in aerospace sector

Hyderabad, Nov. 13 Two foreign companies and a Canadian university have initiated moves to set up helicopter component manufacturing units and an aerospace management school at the 1,500-acre Lepakshi Aerospace and Defence Cluster coming up in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, as the State unveils initiatives to attract global companies in the aerospace sector.

This was pointed out to a high-profile delegation from the US aerospace industry, led by Ms Karen Zens, Deputy Assistant Secretary, US Department of Commerce, during its visit to the city on Friday.

The US delegation evinced keen interest in partnering with Indian companies to set up manufacturing and education facilities in the aerospace sector, especially in Andhra Pradesh.

Mr S. Balaji, Managing Director of Lepakshi Knowledge Hub, said the Aerospace and Defence Cluster coming up within the 10,000-acre hub was attracting foreign investors in this sector.

“An Australian firm has proposed to set up a helicopter unit on a 500-acre site in the cluster that would undertake design to manufacturing and training. At a later date, it may set up an aviation leisure facility. Representatives from the company have recently visited our facility and we will shortly sign a MoU,” he told presspersons on the sidelines of the interactive session with the US delegation.

SKM Technologies, an Indian firm in the aerospace segment, is partnering with a US firm to set up another helicopter component facility on a 50-acre site.

Concordia University, Canada too has shown interest in setting up an aerospace management school. “The aerospace market in India is indeed attracting global interest,” he pointed out.

Ms Karen Zens, addressing representatives of Indian companies at the session, said these were exciting times for Indo-US relations. The US Department of Commerce has recognised the importance of Indian market and is organising several missions to India to develop commerce between the two countries, she said, adding that the present visit by the US aerospace delegation to Hyderabad was part of this mission.

The US delegation comprised companies engaged in manufacture of different components in the aerospace segments such as avionics, sensors, aircraft hardware and power distribution systems.