The Hindu Business Line : Boeing bullish on India

BOEING, the US-based aircraft manufacturer, is bullish on India, ranking the country "right at the top" among the 20-25 regions and countries selected as part of its globalisation strategy.

"India is at the top right up there. The opportunities and the market potential are very large. We will follow the lead of the US Government as trade opens up in the Defence and space sectors. So, you have a great combination of a very strong market potential as far as Boeing is concerned," Mr Thomas R. Pickering, Senior Vice-President, Boeing, told Business Line.

The idea of improving Boeing's position in India was driven by the company's interest in availing itself of the Indian technological development and exploit the lower cost of work.

On whether India could in any way become a contributor to any new projects that the company may take up, Mr Pickering replied in the affirmative.

"It could become one of the contributors to design and research and development work to the whole range of Boeing products. And we believe that Indian IT capabilities could make a real contribution to a very large company like Boeing."

However, officials said that it would be difficult to put a figure on how much the relationship would help India and Boeing.

"There is no target figure on how much India can contribute to the bottom line of Boeing. We are coming in to develop a very strong business relationship with India because we already in the market here. We hope that the synergy will work favourably for both and promote overall business," Mr Pickering said.

The issue of sale of commercial aircraft to Air India (AI) and Indian Airlines (IA) was, however, not taken up during Mr Pickering's visit, except for a meeting with the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Mr Brajesh Mishra.

"I briefed him on our current understanding of the status of things which is where the process is and where it might be going. We did not discuss it beyond that. I have not met anyone from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, IA or AI."

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