Hyderabad, February 15: Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy performed the ‘ground breaking’ ceremony for three Tata Group projects here on Monday, pitchforking Hyderabad onto the global aerospace map.
Involving an investment of Rs. 1,000 crore and providing direct and indirect employment to 9,000 persons, the three aerospace manufacturing projects at Adibhatla village in Ranga Reddy district are Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructure, (joint venture between Tata Advanced Systems (TAS) and Lockheed Martin), Tata Aerospace Systems (JV of TAS and Sikorsky Aircraft) and Nova Integrated systems (Tata enterprise). They are expected to go on stream by 2011 end.
The foundation was symbolically laid at a hotel by the Chief Minister and Major Industries Minister, J. Geeta Reddy, in the presence of S. Ramadorai, chairman of Tata Advanced Systems, Orville Prins, Vice President (Business Development), Lockheed Martin and Retired Air Vice-Marshal A. J. S. Walia, Managing Director, Sikorsky India.
Huge leap
The Chief Minister said the arrival of the Tata Group would be a big leap for the aerospace manufacturing industry in Hyderabad, already known as a hub for defence and aerospace units. Hyderabad was the best investment destination despite a few problems. But when it comes to infrastructure and power tariff, the State offered the best deal with tailor-made incentives for major industries.
Industry was being promoted with the twin objectives of industrialisation and creating local employment, he said. “We are prepared to do whatever best is possible to promote industrialisation.” He thanked Ratan Tata, chairman of the Tata Group, for selecting Hyderabad for its three major manufacturing projects. Ms. Geeta Reddy said the aerospace hub would add to the string of defence research institutions and industries like DRDO and Midhani. The State was able to attract investments worth Rs. 25,000 crore.
Benefits to industry
Mr. Ramadorai said the three projects marked a significant step forward in India’s growth as a high-technology, precision and manufacturing destination. Mr. Prins felt the joint venture of TAS and Lockheed Martin would become a foundation for a long and beneficial partnership between the two companies, creating additional jobs in India and the United States. Mr. Walia said the ground breaking ceremony represented the next phase of the Tata-Sikorsky relationship, bringing benefits to local industry, the government and the region.
–Agencies