By Airbus Chairman Ren

Copyright thehindu

Andhra Pradesh’s Minister for IT, Electronics and HRD Nara Lokesh on Tuesday concluded a landmark meeting with the full Board of the $180 billion aerospace major Airbus in New Delhi.

The engagement, led by Airbus Chairman René Obermann and the President and Managing Director of Airbus India and South Asia, marks the first time the Airbus Board has visited India to explore ‘Make in India’ initiatives and indigenisation opportunities.

Mr. Lokesh presented a strategic pitch positioning Andhra Pradesh as a world-class aerospace manufacturing hub. The State proposed hosting a large-scale Airbus facility supported by co-located tier-1 and tier-2 suppliers, enabling end-to-end supply chain integration and fostering a high-tech aerospace ecosystem.

Andhra Pradesh offered ready-to-allot industrial land parcels and highlighted its forward-looking aerospace policy, designed to enable rapid project execution, global-quality manufacturing, and technology transfer, positioning the State as an export-oriented aerospace hub capable of attracting global anchor investments.

He invited Airbus to establish a fully integrated cluster, allowing suppliers, MSMEs, and partners to operate alongside the main facility, which would de-risk timelines, improve localisation, and deliver cost efficiencies at scale. Several aerospace corridors are being developed across Andhra Pradesh, providing multiple siting options to match Airbus program requirements, aligned with airports, ports, logistics networks, and potential expansion pathways.

Mr. Lokesh underscored the State administration’s investor-first approach, emphasising fast-track clearances, single-window facilitation, and time-bound execution. He highlighted Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s track record in bringing world-class investments to Andhra Pradesh and reinforced the State’s focus on speed of business.

“Airbus represents the gold standard in global aerospace, and Andhra Pradesh is ready to provide a competitive home for complex manufacturing with full ecosystem support,” said Mr. Lokesh. “With ready land, a progressive policy, and flexible corridor options, we can localise, innovate, and scale global programs from Andhra Pradesh.”

The State’s proposal offers ready industrial land with plug-and-play enablement for anchor and vendor units, a progressive aerospace policy with targeted incentives and MSME integration, multi-corridor flexibility aligned to airports, ports, and logistics routes, single-window investor facilitation with time-bound approvals, and industry-aligned talent development through partnerships with leading institutions.