India critical to growth: Boeing

US aerospace company Boeing has affirmed that India is among its top markets that are critical to its international growth plans, especially with the country’s plans to buy fighter jets worth billions of dollars. In April last year, the Indian Air Force had issued an initial tender to acquire 114 jets costing around US$ 18 billion, which is among the world’s biggest military procurements in recent years. The leading competitors for this deal are Lockheed’s F-21, Boeing’s F/A-18, Dassault Aviation’s Rafale, the Eurofighter Typhoon, Russian aircraft Mig 35 and Saab’s Gripen. Dennis Swanson, vice president, International Sales, Boeing Global Sales and Marketing, commented in the run up to his India visit for an exhibition, “As one of the fastest growing economies in the world, India offers growth and productivity opportunities, as well as talent and technology innovation advantages.” Boeing has made considerable investments in  manufacturing, skill development and engineering in India.