The Government is preparing a roadmap to promote manufacturing of aeroplanes in India to ensure growth of country’s aviation sector, union minister, Suresh Prabhu said at an ASSOCHAM event held in New Delhi today. The growth in aviation would need at least 1,000 aeroplanes to be brought by India, but if we just continue to buy it, over a period of time we will result into becoming the largest importer of aeroplanes, he noted. The minister further said that government’s twin plan of promoting indigenous manufacturing of aeroplanes and construction of 100 airports in 15 years at an estimated cost of $65 billion would drive aviation sector’s growth in India.

Urging the industry to embrace new ideas, he informed that the new industrial policy which is soon likely to be announced, is focussed on modernising the present industry and embracing the newer industry which is going to be the cause of future growth. Stating that no country in the world can benefit if global trade declines, the union minister said that while a slowing world economy is a cause of concern for all countries, it is particularly so for a country like India which has got the potential to become $10 trillion economy before 2035.