Boeing Chairman Jim McNerney said India is poised to play a pivotal role in the evolution of the global aerospace and defense industry. Speaking at the opening of "India's Time to Fly" aerospace innovation summit in New Delhi, McNerney said: "We live in a world that's demanding more for less. Companies like Boeing are always on the lookout for the competitive advantages that come with innovative new technologies and long-term partnerships.

"India, with its broad, deep engineering capability and skilled workforce, is a natural partner that offers us the long-term opportunities that can differentiate us in the marketplace and bring mutual success to the company and the country."

McNerney also expressed admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Make in India" initiative.

"In the past few months, we have seen the country evolve. The ‘Make in India' initiative has given added impetus to companies like ours to look toward the future with optimism. Prime Minister Modi has initiated a host of reforms pushing in the right direction, which I'm sure will lead to development and advancement in the region."

Boeing organized the summit in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay as part of Boeing's centennial celebration. Participants included government officials, industry leaders, academia and research institutions. It showcased the ideas and innovations that are changing the industry and the people in the Indian aerospace industry who are creating them.

The summit included an area where Boeing displayed full-scale mock-ups of the Integrator UAV and SHARC unmanned marine vehicle, as well as interactive displays that highlighted partnerships with Indian firms manufacturing aircraft components under Boeing's support for the ‘Make in India' initiative.
END