New Delhi, India: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held detailed discussions with Airbus India and South Asia President and Managing Director Jurgen Westermeier on strengthening India’s position as a global aviation hub, with a strong focus on expanding industrial cooperation in aerospace manufacturing, supply chains, and aviation ecosystem development.
According to information shared by the Minister on social media platform X, the meeting focused on deepening India’s integration into global aviation value chains. The discussions covered expanding Airbus sourcing from India, strengthening local manufacturing capabilities, improving supply chain linkages, and enhancing India’s role in aerospace production networks as global demand for aircraft continues to rise.
A key part of the engagement also revolved around developing India’s Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) ecosystem, alongside skill development initiatives aimed at building a highly trained aerospace workforce. Both sides discussed how these areas can collectively strengthen India’s industrial base and support its ambition of becoming a major aviation manufacturing and services hub.
Airbus India and South Asia President and Managing Director Jurgen Westermeier has earlier highlighted the strategic importance of policy clarity and global trade frameworks in strengthening aerospace cooperation. Welcoming the announcement of a framework for an interim agreement between India and the United States on reciprocal trade, he said the initiative goes beyond tariff reduction and carries broader industrial implications.
“The announcement of a framework for an interim agreement between India and the United States on reciprocal, mutually beneficial trade is a welcome development. This initiative is not merely about reducing tariffs; it is about clearing the runway for Indian suppliers to scale globally,” Westermeier had said.
He further noted that such a framework would help original equipment manufacturers diversify sourcing strategies while improving the integration of Indian suppliers into global aerospace supply chains. Emphasising the importance of policy stability in capital-intensive industries like aviation, he added that predictability in tariffs and long-term policy direction is essential for sustained sectoral growth.
“For capital-intensive sectors such as aerospace manufacturing, certainty in tariffs and predictability in policy are critical for sustained growth. I hope that reduced tariffs will allow Indian suppliers to integrate more seamlessly into the global aerospace supply chain,” Westermeier had stated.
The discussions come at a time when India is actively working to expand its manufacturing footprint in high-value sectors and attract deeper global aerospace investment. Airbus, which already maintains a strong presence in India’s civil aviation market, continues to explore opportunities to increase local sourcing and industrial collaboration as airline fleet expansion accelerates in the country.
Minister Piyush Goyal has been engaging with global aviation and aerospace leaders as part of India’s broader strategy to position itself as a competitive hub in global supply chains, particularly in advanced manufacturing and aviation services.
The details of the meeting and associated statements were reported through official communication shared by the Minister and covered by ANI.
