Prime minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the landmark deal between Tata Son’s Air India and Airbus during a virtual meeting on Tuesday.
Air India signed a 250-aircraft deal with Airbus, on a historic day when the Tata Sons-owned airline sealed the world’s largest single-tranche aircraft deal, worth $70m which also included a 220-aircraft deal with US’ Boeing.
The virtual meet was attended by Commerce and Industries minister Piyush Goyal, Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia, chairman of Tata Trusts Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Sons N Chandrashekhar, CEO of Air India Campbell Wilson and CEO of Airbus Guillaume Faury.
“First of all, I congratulate Air India and Airbus for this landmark agreement. I especially thank my friend President Macron for joining in this event,” PM Modi said during the virtual meeting.
“The deal is a testament to the deepening relationship between India and France as well as the successes and ambitions of India’s civil aviation industry,” PM Modi added.
“The agreement between Air India and Airbus is also an important milestone for the Indo-French Strategic Partnership,” he added.
Meanwhile, French President Macron said the deal between Air India and Airbus was one of the milestones of the in-depth strategic and friendly partnership between India and France.
“This achievement shows that Airbus and its partners, including Safran, are fully committed to developing new areas of cooperation with India,” President Macron said during the virtual meeting.
“We have achieved so much with India in a wide range of sectors, from space to cyber, from defence to culture, from health to energy transition. We now have the historic opportunity to go much further given the potential of India and the Indian people,” President Macron added.
Earlier, President Macron also tweeted, “The contract that Airbus and Tata Sons signed this morning marks a new stage in India and France’s strategic partnership. Thank you @NarendraModi, for your confidence in France and our industry.”
PM Modi also stressed how Civil Aviation is strengthening with an increase in the number of airports in the country. He predicted that India would soon become the world’s third largest aviation market.”As per several estimates, the number of aircraft needed in India in the next 15 years will be more than 2,000,” PM Modi said.
“A few months ago, in October 2022, I attended the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Defence Transport Aircraft Project in Vadodara. Tata and Airbus also have a partnership in this project, which is being built with an investment of €2.5 billion. I am also happy to know that French company Safran is setting up the largest MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) facility in India to service aircraft engines,” PM Modi said.
Highlighting the importance of the India-France partnership, PM Modi said, “Today’s historic announcement will help meet this growing demand. The India-France partnership is playing a direct role in ensuring stability and balance in the international order and the multilateral system.”
“Whether it is the issue of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, or global food and health security, India and France together are making positive contributions. I am confident that our bilateral relations will reach even greater heights this year. Under India’s G20 Presidency, we will have more opportunities to work together,” the PM added.