Boeing seeks to make India its global partner

24 March 2008

New Delhi: Boeing has a twin-engine strategy for India - one as a market, and the other as a global partner.

What it calls its "integrated enterprise strategy" could well prove to be the differentiator between Boeing and its rivals, said Ian Thomas, head of Boeing India. US-based Boeing is putting in millions into India, with a view to tap the country's research and development capabilities, civil aviation infrastructure, and hi-tech manufacturing base.

The airplane maker has sold civilian aircraft to India, valued at $25 billion. On its delivery list for India are airliners for India's flagship carrier Air India, three business jets that would be "the Indian equivalent of Air Force One," and would ferry the likes of the president, the prime minister, and other top officials of the Indian government. Boeing estimates that over the next 20 year period, India would probably order around 911 aircraft, cumulatively worth over $86 billion.

Boeing also has the option of selling military aircraft from its fleet to India. Part of its stable is the F-18 Super Hornet fighter jet, the P-3C Orion reconnaissance aircraft, the Chinook CH-47 helicopter and the Apache attack helicopter, all of which fit in well with India's defence strategies. Add to that a perspective about broadening India's aviation infrastructure and capabilities, and you have a recipe for a long-term commitment to India.

Boeing has invested around $100 million as part of a maintenance center in Nagpur in central India, which is also an emerging inter-modal transport hub. E

lsewhere in Mumbai, the company is assisting Air India to set up a $75 million engineer and pilot training facility.