Hyderabad: President Pranab Mukherjee today emphasized the need for making India a global aviation hub in the world and exhorted Aviation sector and stakeholders to seize the opportunity to take the lead in the industry.
Launching fifth international aviation show along with Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Governor ESL Narasimhan, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and others at Begumpet Airport here, the President said the platform of 200 delegates, representing 25 nations, will come out with deliberations to boost aviation industry in India. The President hoped that India which holds ninth position in the world aviation market is likely to emerge third biggest nation.
Despite showing rapid growth the Indian aviation sector is yet to connect with tier II and III cities and north east states and away from the reach of middle income groups due to paucity of infrastructure, he expressed concern. The Government allowed 100 per cent FDI in green field airport projects, helicopter services and seaplanes and 49 per cent in domestic scheduled passenger airlines and ground handling services.
Aviation sector with domestic and 85 international airlines connecting 40 countries registered a 14 per cent growth and airlifted 190 million passengers in 2015 and is expected to acquire 800 flights to shift 421million air passengers by 2020. As middle income group is put at 60 per cent growth in five years and population at 270 million by 2016 and resulted in spurring the low-cost air travel there is a need for encouraging them to connect them with air travel. Yet India is least penetrated air market in the world with 0.04 trips per capita per year as compared to 0.3 of China and more than 2 in the US, he opined.
The President appealed to the global giants to seize the opportunity and take lead to forge long term partnerships in the aviation industry. The President hoped that the platform comes out with a blue print for indigenization of state of the art aerospace technology in India enabling it as an emerging aerospace technology manufacturing, maintenance and operations in the years to come. The deliberations, he said, will help usher in a new era in the strategic partnerships and collaboration in the civil aviation sector to make India a world class hub of aerospace technology.
Aviation will be success: CM
Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao today exuded confidence that five-day long fifth international aviation show will be successful. Participating in the inaugural ceremony at Begumpet Airport premises by President Pranab Mukherjee he said that he is happy that the show is being conducted in the state capital which is a favourite destination for many sectors. The city has two aerospace parks and several national defence organizations. Telangana is the most sought after destination for investments in various sectors, KCR said. Governor ESL Narasimhan, Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Civil Aviation Minister and others attended the aviation show. (NSS)
Pranab launches 5th Intl Air show at Begumpet
