The Hindu Business Line : Rolls Royce bullish on India, says CEO

Sir John Rose, CEO, Rolls Royce, with Mr Phiroz Vandrevala, Executive Vice-President, Tata Consultancy Services, addressing a luncheon meeting organised by CII in the Capital on Thursday. - Ramesh Sharma

New Delhi , Nov. 25

THE seven-decade long partnership between Rolls Royce and the Indian market is to be further cemented in the coming years.

The group focuses on providing power systems and associated services for use on land, sea and air. Close to 70 years after Rolls Royce sold its first aero engine to J.R.D Tata, the company is still bullish on India.

The Rolls Royce Chief Executive, Sir John Rose, told the media that the continuous economic success in the country was creating opportunities across the range for the company that has had a long-standing industrial relationship with India.

"India is a place where we find a market for most of what we do. People are getting addicted to travel besides which demand for electricity is also going up," said Sir John.

The company provides not only aircraft engines but also has a wholly-owned subsidiary based in Delhi having capabilities for design, development, commissioning and after market services for diesel and gas engines mainly for oil pipeline pumping and power generation duties. The company unlike many others does not find any "policy hindrances" to do business in India.

"We do not find any barriers to do business here," Sir John said.

The Chief Executive added that he did not see any reason why the company could not get involved with Indian universities for product research.

Currently, India provides about £ 100 million of turnover annually to Rolls Royce, half of which comes from the civil aerospace business.

Sir John who has already met with the President, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, and the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, apart from several Cabinet Ministers is schedule to travel to Mumbai and Bangalore for meetings with Mr Ratan Tata and Mr Azim Premji among others.

But despite the long association with India and high profile meetings scheduled for the Chief Executive during the current stay in India there is no fixed agenda for the visit.

"In a sense there is no agenda for the visit. We have been here for a long time," Sir John said and added that he does not only talk to people who are "in our industry".