Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ‘Make in India' campaign seems to have galvanised the Indian manufacturing sector and has also raised confidence levels for overseas investors too. Earlier, the Budget opened up the defence segment further for foreign players. In this scenario, does Prat see Boeing playing a much enhanced role going ahead? And will Boeing make in India?

"We are doing this today and we will only scale this up as we move ahead," pat comes the reply. Of course, there's a cap on the FDI in this sector so we may not have a 100 percent Boeing owned facility but Boeing will continue to manufacture and make in India with its partners.

"We have had significant investment in the supply chain in India. We have invested over a US$100 million over the last few years in the Indian supply chain in developing their capabilities. This investment has been made in processes, plans, equipment, machinery, training, oversight and all that goes into getting the capabilities up. We have done that and we will continue to do that," Prat shares - the thought of Boeing investing through equity still lingering in my mind.

He answers as if he has read it: "Well, we will also look at selectively if there is an opportunity to put some equity in," but adds "Nothing on that as yet but yes, we are in it to support not just ‘Make in India' but help Boeing become more competitive globally." Incidentally, the fact that everything that Boeing is currently doing in India is export oriented gives strong credibility to his statement.

Prat is quite optimistic - in fact enthusiastic - about the future of Indian aerospace manufacturing. "This sector will accelerate dramatically in the next five years," he says. He has his reason to say so. Historically, the aerospace sector has been confined to the government. It was essentially the HALs and the BELs. "Now the private players are coming in - the Tatas, the Mahindras, the L&Ts and many more. You will see huge acceleration of aerospace manufacturing capabilities in the private sector and Boeing is actually actively enabling that. I see the sector growing rapidly in a very short time."

Prat also believes that the steps taken by the Government to allow the private entrepreneurship to bring their innovation to the sector in India is also a welcome step. "This will certainly help India get in the game in a globally competitive manner." 

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