Modi inaugurates Boeing India Engineering & Technology Center, launches Boeing Sukanya Program

The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, inaugurated the new state-of-the-art Boeing India Engineering & Technology Center (BIETC) campus in Bengaluru, Karnataka, today. This significant milestone represents Boeing’s largest investment outside the USA, with a substantial Rs 1,600 crores being poured into the 43-acre campus. The inauguration also marked the launch of the Boeing Sukanya Program, aiming to empower more girls across India to pursue careers in the rapidly growing aviation sector.

During his visit, the Prime Minister took a walkthrough of the Experience Center and interacted with beneficiaries of the Sukanya Program. Stephanie Pope, COO of Boeing Company, praised the Prime Minister’s focus on India’s aviation sector, emphasizing his pivotal role in realizing the Boeing Sukanya Program. She expressed gratitude for the continued support and looked forward to shaping the future of aerospace in collaboration with India. In his address, the Prime Minister lauded Bengaluru as a city that links aspirations to innovations and achievements, bridging India’s technological potential with global demands.

He emphasized that Boeing’s new technology campus would strengthen this belief, positioning it as a significant facility for Boeing outside the USA. The Prime Minister underscored India’s commitment to global tech, research, innovation, design, and demand, aligning with the ‘Make in India-Make for the World’ initiative. He expressed confidence in India’s potential to design future aircraft and contribute significantly to the aerospace industry.

Highlighting the rise of Karnataka as a burgeoning aviation hub, the Prime Minister congratulated the youth of India for gaining access to multiple opportunities in the aviation industry. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to increasing women’s participation in all sectors, particularly in aerospace, and outlined plans to provide career coaching and development facilities in government schools to encourage girls to pursue careers as pilots. The Prime Minister also commended India’s scientific advancements, citing the success of Chandrayaan and the growing scientific temper among the youth.

The Prime Minister emphasized India’s status as the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market, with a doubling of domestic passengers in the last decade. He credited schemes like UDAN for playing a pivotal role in this growth and highlighted the increased air cargo capacity, facilitating the transportation of products from remote areas to international markets. The Prime Minister also outlined the government’s policy initiatives to bolster the aviation sector, including efforts to reduce taxes related to aviation fuel and ease aircraft leasing.

Reiterating the government’s commitment to building a developed India over the next 25 years, the Prime Minister emphasized the country’s upward mobility and its emergence as a neo-middle class. He encouraged stakeholders to maximize the new possibilities being created, particularly in the expansion of India’s tourism sector.

The Prime Minister stressed the need to build an aircraft manufacturing ecosystem in India, leveraging the country’s strong network of MSMEs, talent pool, and stable government policies. He expressed confidence that India’s policy approach to encourage ‘Make in India’ would benefit both investors and the country, leading to a strong partnership with Boeing.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by dignitaries including Governor of Karnataka,  Thawar Chand Gehlot, Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddarammiah and COO of Boeing Company, Stephanie Pope, besides Salil Gupte, President of Boeing India and South Asia.

The inauguration of the BIETC campus marks a significant milestone in Boeing’s commitment to India, with a substantial investment of Rs. 1,600 crores. This 43-acre campus is set to become a cornerstone for collaboration with India’s startup, private, and government ecosystem, driving next-generation products and services for the global aerospace and defense industry.

Additionally, the launch of the Boeing Sukanya Program aims to empower girls and women across India by providing critical skills training in STEM fields and scholarships for pilot training. The program will also establish STEM Labs at 150 locations to spark interest in STEM careers among young girls, contributing to India’s advancement in the aviation sector.