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India-France Forge Aviation Future: SAF, Skilling & Macron's Visit

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu met French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot on the sidelines of the Wings India 2026 event in Hyderabad. They discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation in futuristic areas like Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and advanced air mobility to meet growing connectivity demands. Naidu emphasized building a robust aviation skilling and training ecosystem as a key pillar of the India-France partnership. The meeting precedes an expected visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to India in February.

Key Points: India, France Boost Aviation Ties on SAF, Skilling & Air Mobility

  • Bilateral talks on sustainable aviation fuel
  • Cooperation on advanced air mobility
  • Focus on aviation skilling ecosystem
  • Macron's upcoming India visit
2 min read

Ram Mohan Naidu discusses sustainable fuel, air mobility cooperation with French minister

Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu meets French counterpart Philippe Tabarot at Wings India 2026, discussing sustainable fuel, air mobility, and skilling ahead of Macron's visit.

"a key pillar of our engagement with France will be the development of a robust aviation skilling and training ecosystem - Ram Mohan Naidu"

Hyderabad, January 31

Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu met visiting French Minister for Transport Philippe Tabarot, where they exchanged views on strengthening aerial connectivity to strengthen the long-standing strategic partnership between both countries.

The meeting took place on Friday and Naidu emphasised bilateral cooperation on futuristic technologies such as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and advanced air mobility to address the challenges of urbanisation and the rapidly growing demand for connectivity.

As per reports. French President Emmanuel Macron will visit India in February, with New Delhi set to host the AI Impact Summit.

"With India aspiring to become a strong global aviation powerhouse under the visionary leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, a key pillar of our engagement with France will be the development of a robust aviation skilling and training ecosystem," the Indian minister wrote on X. They met on the sidelines of the Wings India 2026 in Hyderabad.

Wings India 2026, a major civil aviation event, is taking place in Hyderabad from 28 to 31 January 2026 at Begumpet Airport.

Anchored around the theme "Indian Aviation: Paving the Future - From Design to Deployment, Manufacturing to Maintenance, Inclusivity to Innovation and Safety to Sustainability", Wings India 2026 highlights India's rapidly expanding aviation landscape, its growing global footprint, and its vision to emerge as a key hub for manufacturing, services, innovation and sustainable aviation solutions.

Wings India 2026 features an expansive international exhibition, static aircraft displays, flying and aerobatic shows, a high-level international conference, CEO roundtables, B2B and B2G meetings, an aviation job fair, awards ceremony, and vibrant cultural programmes. Delegates and participants from across the world are expected, reinforcing the event's stature as a premier global aviation forum.

Prominent domestic and international stakeholders from across the aviation value chain will participate, including airlines, aircraft and engine manufacturers, MROs, airport developers, OEMs, technology providers, training institutions and service partners.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
While the focus on futuristic tech is good, I hope this partnership also addresses current passenger issues - high airfares, delays, and baggage handling problems. Sustainable fuel won't matter if flying remains unaffordable for the common Indian family.
V
Vikram M
Hyderabad hosting such a major global event is a matter of pride for Telangana and India. Wings India 2026 sounds massive! This kind of exposure is crucial for our engineers and startups in the aviation sector. Jai Hind!
S
Sarah B
The emphasis on skilling and training is the most important part. We have the demographic dividend, but we need world-class training facilities to create a skilled workforce for MRO, manufacturing, and pilot training. France has excellent institutions we can learn from.
R
Rohit P
Advanced air mobility means eVTOLs and drones, right? Imagine air taxis in Bengaluru to beat traffic! But the regulatory framework needs to be ready. Hope the cooperation includes sharing best practices on safety and urban air traffic management.
K
Karthik V
France is a reliable partner. The Rafale deal and now this. Strategic partnerships in critical sectors like aviation and defense make India stronger. Looking forward to President Macron's visit next month.

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