Article Posted on : - Jun 30, 2015

NEW DELHI (PTI): European major Airbus Tuesday expressed its keen interest in participating in the 'Make in India' programme in the area of defence and space.

The interest was expressed by Bernhard Gerwert, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, when he called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Gerwert told Modi that Airbus was keenly interested in becoming a partner in the 'Make in India' initiative, through a cluster approach with regional partners, according to a PMO statement.

The Prime Minister welcomed the interest shown by Airbus in India, it added.

Airbus Defence and Space is a division of Airbus Group responsible for defence and aerospace products and services.

During the meeting, Modi discussed with Gerwert various projects in India, in the aerospace, defence and civil aviation sectors.

Gerwert recalled the Prime Minister's visit to the Airbus manufacturing facility in Toulouse in France in April and said it had generated "positive atmosphere and interest".

During that visit, Airbus had announced that it would increase its Indian outsourcing to US$ 2 billion.

Airbus Group CEO Tom Enders, who had received the Indian leader in Toulouse, had said: "India already takes a centre-stage role in our international activities and we want to even increase its contribution to our products."

In India, Airbus Group already operates two engineering centres - one focused on civil aviation and the other one defence - besides, a research and technology (R&T) centre which together employ over 400 highly qualified people.