From June 24 to 28, 2024, a trade mission convened by Andalucía TRADE took place in the Indian cities of Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad, in which 10 Andalusian companies, including M&M Group – Mecanizados y Montajes Aeronáuticos, met with companies such as Tata, Mahindra and Airbus India originated after the visit of the Indian ambassador in Spain, Shri Dinesh, to ADM Seville.
This action is part of a strategy agreed with the Andalucía Aerospace cluster, which includes the presence in strategic fairs or missions to countries of great interest. On the other hand, in ADM Seville 2024, the largest aerospace event in Spain, also organized by Andalucía TRADE, the commercial agenda of this mission was developed. The event was attended by the Ambassador of India in Spain, Shri Dinesh K. Patnaik, who met with the 10 companies participating in this mission.
On behalf of M&M Group, participated in the mission its commercial director, Pablo Padilla, who has highlighted “the enormous potential and also the interest shown by the main Indian firms in the aerospace sector for the capabilities offered by the Andalusian companies that have visited the country. This action strengthens the strategy that M&M has been carrying in recent months of internationalization and prospecting of new global markets, and where India, undoubtedly, has a preferential place, as we saw in the visit we recently received from Tata Advanced Systems to our facilities“.
This mission comes at a time when Andalusia’s aeronautical exports to the world have grown again, with historical record figures, in the first four months of 2024, with sales worth 1,120 million euros, thanks to a year-on-year increase of 158%, more than double.
The business meeting in India is aimed at a high potential market, strategic for the diversification of Andalusian firms, as it is the third largest domestic market in the world, behind only the United States and China.
The milestones set by Andalucía TRADE with this action have been to make known the opportunities of the aeronautical sector in India, identify the agents of the sector (institutions, OEMs, TIER I and TIER II), visit the facilities of various manufacturers, and gather information on the protection of intellectual property in the country. Specifically, the Andalusian firms have had the opportunity to meet with major companies such as Airbus India, Tata Advanced Systems Limited or Mahindra Aerostructures; as well as with government representatives from Invest India or the Ministries of Civil Aviation and Defense.
The companies that have traveled to India come from Cadiz (Titania and M&M Group) and Jaen (Sicnova Group) and Seville (Airgrup, Airtificial Aerospace & Defense Engineering, Canagrosa, Aciturri, Lamaignere Cargo, Andalucia Aerospace, Airgrup Machining).
According to Andalucia TRADE data, the aerospace industry in India has undergone remarkable growth and transformation in the last decade. The Indian government is driving the development of the aerospace sector by providing a stable policy environment and incentivizing competition-driven growth. It is important to highlight the business opportunities that India offers to the Andalusian aeronautical sector, and a prime example is the project to manufacture 56 Airbus C295 aircraft for the Indian Air Force, of which 16 will be built and delivered from Andalusia.
The participation of Andalucía TRADE-Business Agency for Transformation and Economic Development of the Junta de Andalucía in this action is co-financed with funds from the European Union, under the ERDF Operational Program of Andalusia 2021-2027, with a Community contribution of 80%, or any other European Program likely to co-finance this action.
INDIAN AEROSPACE INDUSTRY
India has a large domestic market and its geographical location makes it a strategic gateway to Asia. It also has a strong economic development, with a forecast of 6.5% GDP growth in 2024. The country is ranked as the world’s fifth largest economy, with growth forecast to rise to third place by 2030. In addition, they are developing a policy of openness to international trade, as shown by their treaties with countries such as Australia, the United Arab Emirates and Canada, and the ongoing negotiations for an agreement with the EU, which will put Andalusia in an unbeatable position to access the market.
Likewise, one of the main drivers of Indian growth has been the liberalization of the sector to foreign investment in multiple areas, such as the development of airports, infrastructures for MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) operations or the provision of helicopter services and non-scheduled civil flights. Similarly, numerous manufacturers in the aeronautical sector are establishing themselves in the country (Airbus, Boeing, Safran, etc.), which has attracted the supply chain around them. Similarly, India has approved a program for the development of 100 small airports, heliports and water airfields, within a plan to develop and operate up to 220 airports in the next five years.
Source: Andalucía TRADE
