Delhi, 25 November (H.S.): In a major boost to India's aviation sector, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Safran Aircraft Engine Services India (SAESI) facility in Hyderabad on Wednesday, November 26, at 10 a.m. via video conferencing. Located at the GMR Aerospace and Industrial Park, this center is the first Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India established by a global engine Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).

The state-of-the-art facility is dedicated to servicing LEAP (Leading Edge Aviation Propulsion) engines, which power the widely-used Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Developed with an initial investment of approximately ₹1,300 crore, the 45,000-square-meter plant is one of the largest of its kind globally.

It is designed to service up to 300 LEAP engines annually and is expected to create over 1,000 highly skilled jobs for Indian technicians and engineers by the time it reaches full capacity in 2035.The establishment of this MRO facility is a significant step towards achieving 'Aatmanirbharta' (self-reliance) in the aviation sector, a key goal of the government.

By developing indigenous MRO capabilities, India aims to reduce its reliance on foreign service centers, thereby decreasing foreign exchange outflows, strengthening supply-chain resilience, and creating high-value employment. This move is also expected to position India as a major global aviation hub.

The Government of India has actively promoted the MRO sector through several key policy initiatives. These include GST reforms in 2024, the MRO Guidelines of 2021, and the National Civil Aviation Policy of 2016, all of which have helped to rationalize tax structures and simplify operations for MRO providers in the country.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar