Jyotiraditya Scindia Unveils International Aerospace Conference
Jyotiraditya M Scindia, the Union Minister for Civil Aviation & Steel, marked the inauguration of the ‘International Aerospace Conference: Moving Towards Inclusive Global Value Chains.’ This event, held on September 1st and 2nd, 2023, in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
Jyotiraditya Scindia Unveils International Aerospace Conference
The International Aerospace Conference is part of the G20 initiative in the aerospace sector, aligned with G20 and B20 priorities. It focuses on fostering inclusive global value chains for global trade and investment, with the objective of promoting and strengthening trade and investment among G20 nations.
In his inaugural speech, Jyotiraditya M Scindia emphasized the opportune moment for global aerospace industry players to establish their presence in India, citing several compelling reasons:
Development of Infrastructure
The Indian civil aviation sector, which had just 74 airports nine years ago, has now expanded to include 148 airports, including heliports and water aerodromes. The government is committed to further increasing this number to over two hundred within the next three to five years.
Availability of Aircraft
The number of aircraft in India has seen significant growth, surging from 400 planes in 2014 to almost 700, with nearly 1000 more on order.
Ecosystem Development
The disinvestment of Air India has catalyzed a transformation in the civil aviation industry, benefiting passengers, airports, MROs (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul), the manufacturing sector, and cargo. The substantial aircraft orders placed by Air India and Indigo, along with the emergence of new players like Akasha, exemplify the dynamic changes occurring in the Indian civil aviation industry.
Thrust on Regional Connectivity
The UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) scheme has given rise to four new regional airlines in India. The long-awaited hub-and-connectivity network has become a reality in the country.
Regarding the aviation infrastructure in Gwalior, Scindia assured that the development of the new integrated domestic terminal at Gwalior Airport would be completed within a record-breaking fifteen months. He also pledged unwavering government support for the comprehensive growth of aerospace manufacturing in India.
During interactions with dignitaries, the Minister emphasized the government’s commitment, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, to adopt a transformative rather than incremental approach. This commitment extends to the civil aviation sector, where initiatives like a liberalized drone policy, the Production Linked Incentive Scheme for drones and their components, the implementation of DigiYatra (a digital traveler initiative), new MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) guidelines, and the introduction of helicopters for last-mile connectivity have made the sector more accessible and customer-friendly.
The conference features panels of renowned experts discussing a range of issues related to global value chains and strategies for making them all-encompassing. The conference comprises five sessions, each addressing critical topics:
- Spawning Global Value Chains in Design & Robust Aerospace Manufacturing: Importance of MSMEs
- Integrated Global MRO Services
- Women in Aviation: Fireside chat
- Advanced Technologies in Aerospace & Air Mobility: Changing Skill Sets
- Building Scale in Aerospace Manufacturing
Over the past few decades, there has been a monumental surge in Global Value Chains (GVCs) that have reshaped the global economy. GVCs have played a pivotal role in driving economic growth, technological innovation, and job creation. This event is poised to further prepare India to meet the challenges and opportunities presented by the global supply chain landscape.
