Eurocopter to invest $1 billion in India

BY A CORRESPONDENT
July 7, 2006

The next couple of years will see Eurocopter, the leading helicopter manufacturer in the world today, invest over one billion dollars in India, according to a Business Standard report. Eurocopter is bidding, along with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, for over 500 helicopter manufacturing contracts with the Indian defense.

"We are exploring industrial deployment of our helicopters. Eurocopter is also planning to hire a qualified workforce for its India operations, based in Bangalore. The total investment in India could be in the region of $1 billion," said Eurocopter Regional Sales (South Asia) Director Rainer Farid to Business Standard.

Eurocopter is bidding for 10-tonne helicopters for the Army, Navy, and Air Force -- 260 single-engine, high-altitude, light reconnaissance helicopters for the Army as well as 200 ten-tonne helicopters for the Navy.

Additionally, Eurocopter will also be bidding for VIP helicopter contracts for the Indian Air Force. "Moreover, we are in talks with corporate houses for VIP travel and offshore transportation," said David Martin, Manager (Administration), Eurocopter India.

Eurocopter is seriously looking at setting up an Indian subsidiary, a helicopter training institute as well as a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centre for Indian helicopters which is to act as hub for the whole of Asia. "This MRO will take care of all requirements of flight engineering and repair," added Farid.