The Tata Group would centre all its aerospace and defence sector investments in the future around Andhra Pradesh, particularly Hyderabad, said its chairman, Ratan N Tata.
“Aerospace and defence are larger and new areas for Tata and we will centre them in Andhra Pradesh,” he said.
Speaking at the launch of the first Sikorsky S-92 helicopter cabin by Tata Advanced Systems (TAS) at Adibhatla near here, he said this was the starting point for investments by Tatas in the state.
“The atmosphere is congenial and we hope we can be proud corporate citizens of Andhra Pradesh,” the group chairman said, adding he saw a bright future for AP and Hyderabad, on the back of ready infrastructure.
This is also the first copter cabin to be made in India. It is targeted for delivery to Sikorsky Aircraft Corp, the world’s largest helicopter manufacturer and a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation, on November 23. “The delivery of the Sikorsky S-92 cabin is on schedule and an important milestone for Tata’s plans for the aerospace industry. It also reflects highly of the project execution and precision manufacturing expertise that India possesses,” said Tata.
Sikorsky and the Tata group had signed an agreement in June 2009 for TAS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Sons, providing integrated solutions for aerospace, defence, homeland security and disaster management, to manufacture cabins for Sikorsky S-92 helicopters.
TAS facility
TAS has set up a new manufacturing facility on 50 acres at the Aerospace and Precision Engineering Special Economic Zone promoted by the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation. The SEZ is spread across 300 acres.
TAS, anchor unit at the SEZ, said it would bring in world-class manufacturing technology to India. It would also be the seed project on which other Tata group aerospace companies would work on. The facility is export-oriented and the cabins manufactured here will form the overall helicopter structure that Sikorsky will integrate for its global customers of the S-92 aircraft, a four-blade twin-engine medium-lift helicopter for civil operations and uses advanced helicopter technology.
TAS had earlier said it would invest about Rs1,000 crore in the project. The foundation stone was laid by the former chief minister, Rajasekhara Reddy, in July last year. The project, completed in 143 days, has so far created jobs for 1,000 people. In all, 10,000 jobs are expected to be created at the SEZ over the next five years, with more units coming up.
Chief minister K Rosaiah urged the Tata Group to consider investments in the Petroleum, Chemical and Petrochemical Investment Region for a chemical project in the state, apart from looking at areas of skill upgradation, as many technical graduates were not able to find gainful employment due to inadequate skills.
Later in a meeting with the chief minister, Ratan Tata said the group was interested in steel, power and automobile sectors.
Rosaiah asked Tata to finalise the plans for setting up a manufacturing unit for the latter’s joint venture with Agasthya Helicopters Group around Hyderabad. The group, in view of the growing automobile market in India, could also invest in the automotive sector on the outskirts of Hyderabad or any other location in the state, the chief minister said.
He also asked the Tata group to consider Anantapur or Kadapa in the state for a steel plant.
