By Haider Abbas
It might sound a bit erratic that now India, from where there is ‘high migration’ towards US, for greener pastures etc, there is a reverse-employment -generation in the offing, that too for US! It has been learnt that Air India and US Boeing Aircraft have signed a 100 billion USD deal which includes France and UK too. There is an air of delight in these nations after the Indian deal. So much so that the US President on the White House 1 official website, on February 14, has issued a statement on Air India’s Historic Purchase of Boeing Aircraft.
It says that ‘the United States can and will lead the world in manufacturing. I am proud to announce today the purchase of over 200 American-made aircraft through a historic agreement between Air India and Boeing. This purchase will support over one million American jobs across 44 states, and many will not require a four-year college degree. This announcement also reflects the strength of the U.S.-India economic partnership. Together with Prime Minister Modi, I look forward to deepening our partnership even further as we continue to confront shared global challenges—creating a more secure and prosperous future for all of our city.
The President of France Emmanuel Macron has also tweeted that on February 14, the contract between France Airbus and Tata Sons of India is to set a new stage in Indian and French strategic partnership. He thanked PM Modi and India to have kept their trust in France and its industry into making aircrafts. The PM of UK Rishi Sunak has lauded Modi’s step as he said that it is expected that ‘Air India-Airbus landmark deal (will) create jobs and boost UK exports, reported The Hindustan Times 2. ‘A British high commission statement said the Air India-Airbus deal is worth billions of pounds to the UK as a “significant portion of the manufacturing process for the new aircraft is expected to take place in UK.
What matters here is also the claim, that too from US President, that even those not in possession of a four-years degree ( of engineering) will find the employment avenues. India really cares so much for US isn’t it? Perhaps, the hollow slogan of Make-in-India has been consigned to the dustbin, as it is clearly understood that the deal will now bring any employment into India. A country where there are millions and millions of unemployed and underpaid generation. Where millions go sleep unfed and millions remain underfed, homeless and starving! If these hundreds of aircrafts, to be imported from US and France, were to have been manufactured in India, with the help from foreign technology, it was to have brought the much-desired-solace, by why would US and France partake from their advancements in technology, particularly when, the other country let the option of ‘indigenous production’ make-way?
PM Modi tweeted this virtual meeting with French President to announce the big achievement and on the same day held a conversation with US President, which was also tweeted by him to inform about the ‘historic day’ which is suppose to deepen the India-US comprehensive and global partnership. PM Modi was cautious to use ‘new opportunities’ and now ‘new employment’ that this deal will help create.
It is estimated that Air India, which was once a government body, but has been sold by PM Modi’s government to Tata Sons, is set to buy 470 aircrafts, out of which 220 are to be from US Boeing and 30 are to be retained on lease. This will overall make 100 billion USD, which obviously has triggered a great sense of elation in all US, France and UK, as this huge-amount is set to be distributed in the companies like Royal Royce (UK), Airbus (France) and Boeing (US). Today India does not stand even in the top-10 airlines of the world, in terms of possessing the number of aircraft, perhaps, this is what India is now set to change.
India has played the big gamble, as through this deal the chances of revival of Air India will get a major boost, as there is an everyday growing demand inside the country for air-travel, therefore, Tata Group, as per Business Today 3 after months of negotiations, sealed the deal ‘ totalling 470 aircraft, (which) comprises new and next-generation 40 Airbus 350, 20 Boeing 787, 10 Boeing 777-9s, 210 Airbus A320/321 Neo and 190 Boeing 737 MAX single-aisle aircraft.’ “Geopolitics also played a role in the order as the European and American governments realized that India was fast-emerging as the new growth centre to rival China,” a person familiar with negotiations said.’ Air India also did tweet the details of the deal.
Indian needs in terms of civil aviation is on the increase and in the next 15 years the demand is soon to surpass the 2000 aircrafts, which of course is likely to open up more avenues for aerospace manufacturing. No wonder the number of airports in India, in the last eight years, have increased from 74 to 147, almost the double, tells Latestly 4 , and soon India is to hit the figure of more than 200 airports in the next five years, has been announced by the Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, reported by PTINews 5 . But, India will need to go a long way to compete with China, whose two companies (China Southern and China Eastern Airlines), have more than a 1000 fleet of aircrafts unlike two US companies which have around 2000 aircrafts. Air India today stands at a figure of 113 aircrafts, according to LiveMint 6.
The deal is to attract UK to manufacture the engine and wings, France its own part and Biden US will claim to have brought a million jobs to America, here is where India is to miss-the-bus, and it could have taken a cue from China, where it is locked up in competitiveness in many spheres! As a matter of fact, China has challenged the US and France in this domain too as ‘China’s first homegrown passenger jet could splinter the duopoly of Airbus and Boeing planes in the country’s domestic market and beyond, reported FirstPost 7 based on inputs from South China Morning Post. China could accomplish this feat after 14 years of development. This is where India lags and will take decades to build an empire of its own fleet of aircrafts, but nevertheless, India also needs to focus more on its medical and health infrastructure as there are thousands and thousands who die out of horrific apathy of medical facilities! Let’s see when that would happen.
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The writer is a former UP State Information Commissioner and writes on international issues.
References:
6- https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/ai-buys-540-planes-in-biggest-ever-deal-11676396598451.html
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