Airbus to raise Indian outsourcing to $2 bn by 2020

The aircraft maker expressed support to Modi's 'Make in India' initiative

Airbus Industrie has assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi that its Indian outsourcing will increase from $400 million to $2 billion over the next five years as part of the Indian government's Make in India initiative.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin tweeted: "500% increase in 5 years. @Airbus to PMA @narendramodi : Indian outsourcing to increase from $400 mil to $2 billion."

"Make in India gains further momentum. $2 billion cumulative outsourcing planned by @Airbus from India by 2020," he posted.

This was conveyed to Modi during his tour of the Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, in southern France, where he flew down from Paris. Modi arrived in France on Thursday on the first leg of his three-nation tour, which will also take him to Germany and Canada.

Accompanied by French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, Modi went around the Airbus A 380 Assembly Line Facility in Toulouse.

Airbus Group CEO Tom Enders, who received the Indian leader, said: "We are honoured to host Prime Minister Modi in Toulouse and convey to him our desire to forge a stronger industrial bond with India. India already takes a centre-stage role in our international activities and we want to even increase its contribution to our products."

"We support Prime Minister Modi's 'Make in India' call and (we) are ready to manufacture in India, for India and the world," he added.

In India, Airbus Group already operates two engineering centres - one focused on civil aviation and the other one defence - besides, a research and technology (R&T) centre which together employ over 400 highly qualified people.

The group's senior representative conveyed their decision to expand these centres so that they can take on comprehensive design responsibilities for future Airbus group programmes.

After the visit to Airbus, Modi went to the French space agency CNES.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Indian employees during a visit to the Airbus facility in Toulouse

He will later go to Lille to visit the Neuve Chapelle war memorial to pay homage to the 10,000 Indian soldiers who were killed during World War I.

The Indian prime minister will return to Paris and attend a reception by the Indian community and also meet former French president Nicolas Sarkozy.

On Friday, Modi held talks with President Francois Hollande and both sides inked 17 agreements and three letters of intent. India also said it is buying 36 Rafale fighter jets in fly away condition as soon as possible.

Modi leaves for Germany on Sunday.