Telangana Govt to promote Defence & Aerospace Hub

Hyderabad, Dec 1 (INN): The Government of Telangana is pulling out all stops to promote the State as a Defence and Aerospace Hub with provision of incentives, ready infrastructure and necessary policy reforms.

The State Government has identified four key factors that help a potential investor to identify locations for new investments to set up an industry - land, power, ease of doing business and ready infrastructure, Telangana Industries & Commerce Secretary Arvind Kumar said at the three day global conclave being organized by Kenes Exhibitions & Telangana Government on Tuesday.

Speaking at the session on 'Telangana Destination for the Aerospace Industry,' Kumar said, "Government was actively working on three proposals - Aero Skills Academy in collaboration with Aerocampus Aquitaine, France; Aerospace Incubation Center in collaboration with IIT, Hyderabad and development of a Third Aerospace Park in north of Hyderabad.' These proposals are aimed at making Hyderabad a Hub for Defence & Aerospace industry in India. The State Government entered into a 5-year policy agreement with Bordeaux Aeronautics that also includes Aeronautics and was signed by Chief Secretary Dr. Rajiv Sharma on October 13, 2015.

Further elaborating the initiatives by the State Government, Kumar said that the government has identified 1.45 lakh acres of land classified for industry use free from any encumbrances. To ensure supply of continuous and uninterrupted power supply, the government is making provision of 3000 MW of thermal and 2500 MW solar energy in the immediate short term. For the long term over the next 4 years, there are plans to generate 14000 MW with different companies completing the basic process of land acquisition, clearances and other approvals.

Speaking about the perspectives of cooperation with Govt. of Telangana, Frederic Woringer, Director - International Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bordeaux, France said a 5-year framework agreement has been signed with Chief Secretary, Govt. of Telangana on Oct. 13, 2015. The Aerospace Valley has created 40000 jobs in aerospace sector with an investment outlay of 10 billion Euros. The cooperation will cover policy framework, Make in India, SME Focus, Ease of Doing Business, local partners, Green Aeronautics and MRO and the innovative skills training in collaboration with Aerocampus Aquitaine, he said.

Jerome Verschave, Director - Aerocampus Aquitaine, France said the Aerospace Industry will see a huge spurt in business over the next decade with creation of 1 million pilots and technicians. There is a need for creation of a training cluster in aeronautical industry to offer trained manpower to the Defence & Aerospace industry and is partnering with the Govt. of Telangana to set up a similar school in Hyderabad. The Aerocampus Aquitaine aims to offer comprehensive training for professional skills in Defence & Aerospace industry and training has EASA certification. The center in France was established with an investment of outlay of 26 million Euros and will cater to the professional skill training for the pilots and technicians.

The three-day conclave had participation of over 500 delegates who represented 11 countries like UK, Israel, France, Russia, Poland, Macedonia, Holland, US, Germany, Saudi Arabia and Italy among others. There were 70 exhibitors showcasing their prototypes and products at the conference-cum-exhibition.