Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday called for a tie-up between the Bengaluru-based Hindustan Aeronatucs ltd and French defence equipment manufacturing company, Safran, for manufacturing aviation engines under the Make-in-India scheme, even as the former Goa Chief Minister lobbied for Goa as a smallish hub for manufacture of Defence-related equipment.
Parrikar also said that the actual construction of the mines counter-measure vessels, which the South Goa-based Goa Shipyard limited had been contracted to manufacture, for a sum of around Rs30,000 crore, will begin next year and that it would boost employment in the State.
“If HAl is to maintain engines, then they should tie-up Safran and come out with Make-in-India for manufacturing of engines. We are going to require between 6,000 to 10,000 engines in next eight to ten years, which is a big enough quantity and most of them are Safran engines,” Parrikar said, while inaugurating a maintenance and repair centre in Honda village, located around 45 kms north of Panaji.
The Defence Minister said that the Goa Government was willing to provide, land as well as other logistical requirements for setting up such a manufacturing hub. “(In the) engineering industry, we do have technical manpower. Sometimes they require some training. If you check up across India, you will find Goans in hi-tech jobs across India. A lot of talent is available locally also,” Parrikar added.
The Defence Minister also said invited Safran to set up a plant in Goa, which could manufacture parts for the Rafale fighter jets, 36 of which were purchased by the Defence Ministry in a Government-to-Government deal earlier this year, for the cost of Rs59,000 crore.
“I am not a very greedy person. We have a Rs30,000 crore offset deal. Maybe a Rs1,000-2,000 (crore) can come Goa’s way. If that can happen, Goa can be satisfied with a small requirement, but will also provide the technological support that is required for such kind of activity,” Parrikar said.
French technicians, Parrikar said in a tongue-in-cheek comment, would be more than willing to travel to Goa on work.
“They will love to come to Goa, while doing work, they can spend their evening on a nice beach, so that they don’t miss the what should I say, the scene or the Cannes festival, or the beautiful beaches of the French, European or even Spanish beaches. Goa is the right place for this kind of activity and we can support the activity,” Parrikar said.
The Defence Minister also said that the GSl would start constructing the MSMV’s by next year, a development which he claimed, would boost employment in Goa.
“The technology acquisition parameter is in the final stage, then there will be a final negotiation of price and the next year, actual construction of mines counter measure vessel will start,” the Defence Minister said.
“We hope it will create employment on a big scale in ship building industry and defence industry,” he added.