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Key Points

Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh met with the entire Airbus board during their first India visit. He pitched the state as an ideal location for Airbus's manufacturing facility with ready land and policy support. The proposal included an integrated aerospace cluster with co-located vendors and MSMEs for complete supply chain integration. Lokesh emphasized AP's commitment to fast approvals and investor-friendly approach to establish the state as an export-oriented aerospace hub.

Key Points: Nara Lokesh Pitches Andhra Pradesh to Airbus Board for Aerospace Hub

  • Minister Lokesh presented AP's proposal for end-to-end aerospace manufacturing facility
  • Offered ready-to-allot land parcels and progressive aerospace policy for rapid take-off
  • Proposed integrated cluster with suppliers and MSMEs for supply chain efficiency
  • Highlighted state's focus on speed of doing business and fast-track approvals
3 min read

AP Minister Nara Lokesh meets full Board of Directors of $180bn Aeropsace major Airbus

Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh meets Airbus board, proposes world-class aerospace manufacturing facility with ready land and progressive policy for Make in India.

"Airbus represents the gold standard in global aerospace, and Andhra Pradesh is prepared to deliver a competitive home for complex manufacturing with full ecosystem support - Nara Lokesh"

Vijayawada, October 2

Minister for IT, Electronics and HRD, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Nara Lokesh on Thursday concluded a high-level meeting in New Delhi with the Board of the $180 bn Aerospace major Airbus, led by Chairman Rene Obermann and the President and Managing Director of Airbus India and South Asia.

This is the first time the Airbus board has come to India and is exploring options on 'Make in India' and indigenisation.

Minister Lokesh delivered a strategic pitch and presented Andhra Pradesh's proposal to host a large, world-class aerospace manufacturing facility, anchored by Airbus and supported by co-located Tier 1 and Tier 2 vendors for end-to-end supply chain integration.

Andhra Pradesh offered ready-to-allot land parcels and a forward-looking aerospace policy designed to enable rapid project take-off, global-quality manufacturing, and technology transfer, positioning the state as an export-oriented aerospace hub.

In a post on X, Minister Lokesh said that they are building a world-class aerospace and defence ecosystem in Anantapur.

"'North sounds good.' Slightly more north is Anantapur...where we are building a world-class aerospace and defence ecosystem," he wrote.

https://x.com/naralokesh/status/1973605963191251174

The state invited Airbus to establish an integrated cluster where suppliers, MSMEs, and partners can operate alongside the main facility, thereby de-risking timelines, improving localisation, and delivering cost efficiency at scale.

Andhra Pradesh conveyed that several aerospace corridors are being developed, with multiple siting options available to match Airbus program needs, vendor clustering, logistics access, and expansion pathways.

Minister Lokesh travelled from Amaravati exclusively for this engagement, underscoring the administration's investor-first approach and commitment to fast-track clearances, single-window facilitation, and time-bound execution. Minister Lokesh spoke about brand CBN and the track record of Chandrababu Naidu in bringing world-class investments to the state.

He further spoke about AP's focus on 'speed of doing business' and fast approvals.

"Airbus represents the gold standard in global aerospace, and Andhra Pradesh is prepared to deliver a competitive home for complex manufacturing with full ecosystem support," said Minister Nara Lokesh.

"With ready land, a progressive policy, and corridor flexibility, we can localise, innovate, and scale for global programs from Andhra Pradesh," Lokesh further added.

The Andhra Pradesh government offered ready industrial land with plug-and-play enablement for anchor and vendor units, a progressive aerospace policy with targeted incentives, and MSME integration.

The government also offered multi-corridor flexibility aligned with airports, ports, and logistics routes, as well as single-window investor facilitation and time-bound approvals. Additionally, it provided industry-aligned talent and skilling through partnerships with leading institutions.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
While this sounds promising, I hope the government ensures that local MSMEs and suppliers actually benefit from this. Sometimes these big investments only help large corporations. The focus should be on real skill development and technology transfer to Indian companies.
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Arjun K
Great to see Andhra Pradesh competing for such high-value investments! The plug-and-play infrastructure and single-window clearance are exactly what international companies look for. Hope this materializes soon! ✈️
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Sarah B
As someone working in the aviation sector, this is exactly the kind of investment India needs. Airbus coming to India means we can reduce our dependency on imports and build our own aerospace capabilities. Well done AP government!
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Karthik V
The focus on talent development through partnerships with institutions is crucial. We need to ensure our youth are trained for these high-tech jobs. This could be a game-changer for engineering graduates in Andhra region.
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Michael C
Impressive that the Airbus board came to India for the first time. Shows how seriously they're considering India as a manufacturing base. Hope other states learn from AP's proactive approach to attracting investment.

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