New Delhi / Hyderabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the Safran Aircraft Engine Services India (SAESI) facility at the GMR Aerospace and Industrial Park – SEZ, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad via video conference.
Addressing the event, Shri Modi said that this facility marks a “new flight” for India’s aviation sector and will help make the country a global hub for Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services. He added that the new facility will create many high-tech job opportunities for youth in the aerospace sector.
The Prime Minister recalled meeting the Safran management on 24th November and expressed his confidence that Safran’s investment in India will continue to grow. He congratulated the Safran team on this milestone.
Shri Modi highlighted that India’s aviation sector has grown rapidly in recent years and is now the third-largest domestic aviation market in the world. He said the rising aspirations of Indians are increasing the demand for air travel, and airlines are expanding their fleets, with orders placed for more than 1,500 new aircraft.
The Prime Minister noted that with India’s aviation sector growing fast, the need for MRO facilities has also increased. He pointed out that nearly 85% of India’s MRO work was being done abroad, leading to higher costs and longer aircraft downtime. Today, he said, India is developing itself as a major MRO hub. He added that this is the first time a global engine manufacturer has set up deep-level engine servicing in India.
Shri Modi said that Safran’s training programs and partnerships with Indian institutions will help create a skilled workforce and boost India’s MRO ecosystem. He emphasized that the facility will generate numerous jobs for youth in South India. He also noted that India is working to develop MRO capabilities in the shipping sector.
The Prime Minister encouraged Safran to explore aircraft engine and component design in India, highlighting the country’s large MSME network and young talent. He said India wants to go beyond MRO and also use its skills for propulsion design and manufacturing.
Shri Modi emphasized that India is taking bold decisions, improving ease of doing business, and welcoming global investment. He mentioned reforms such as allowing 100% FDI in many sectors, including defence and space, Production Linked Incentive schemes, simplified compliance, GST reforms, faceless tax assessment, new labour codes, and the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. These measures, he said, have made India a trusted partner and a major hub for manufacturing.
He added that India values investors as co-creators and stakeholders in the nation’s development journey. “Betting on India is the smartest business decision of this decade,” he said, congratulating everyone for the SAESI facility.
Chief Minister of Telangana Shri Revanth Reddy, Union Minister Shri K. Ram Mohan Naidu, and other dignitaries were present at the event.
Background:
Safran Aircraft Engine Services India (SAESI) is Safran’s dedicated MRO facility for LEAP engines, which power Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The facility is spread across 45,000 sqm and was developed with an initial investment of about ₹1,300 crore. It can service up to 300 engines per year and will employ over 1,000 skilled Indian technicians and engineers by 2035.
The state-of-the-art facility will reduce India’s dependence on foreign MRO services, save costs, create high-value jobs, strengthen the supply chain, and position India as a global aviation hub. Government policies like GST reforms (2024), MRO Guidelines (2021), and the National Civil Aviation Policy (2016) have made it easier for MRO providers to operate in India.