Newsroom

U.S.-India Civil Aviation Partnership Soars

Senior Delegation from Partner Country lands in Hyderabad for India Aviation 2008

October 15, 2008

The U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC), joined by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), landed at India Aviation 2008, leading a joint mission of the finest U.S. companies attending India's first-ever civil aviation exhibition and conference. The Executive Aviation Mission, including representatives from The Boeing Company, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, United Technologies, Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc, KPMG and Satyam, is led by USIBC Board Member Emeritus Dr. Dinesh Keskar, Senior Vice President - Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes and Marion Blakey, President and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association of America. "Even as the global economy reacts to the current financial turmoil, India continues to grow its civil aviation sector. In these difficult times, it is imperative for Indo-U.S. collaboration to continue and expand for the mutual benefit of both countries," said Dr. Dinesh Keskar. In addition to his leadership roles in The Boeing Company and USIBC, Keskar is also Chairman of summit organizer Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry's (FICCI) Civil Aviation Committee. "As the United States and India deepen their partnership to modernize India's aviation and airports sector, jobs are being created in India as well as in the U.S., spurred by technology trade and high-end manufacturing. This is a true "win-win" for both sides given the current global economic slowdown," said Ron Somers, President of the U.S.-India Business Council. Ever since India's Aviation Minister, Praful Patel, initiated a new era of cooperation with the United States under the Open Skies Agreement in 2005, bilateral dialogues between the two governments have taken place in rapid succession and U.S. aviation majors have strengthened their presence all over India. Patel created the India Aviation Summit to spur further growth and investment in this important sector. Marion Blakey of AIA said, "Our companies are here in force and serve as the primary partner for this summit because of the depth of our relationships with our Indian partners. These ties were already strong during my last visit here as a U.S. government official. The expansion of these relationships since then makes it clear we are making great progress together. I am very happy to be participating in this historic event in my new role with U.S. industry." The U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC), formed in 1975 under the aegis of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is the premier business advocacy organization representing 300 of the largest U.S. companies investing in India, joined by two dozen global Indian companies, whose mandate is to deepen trade and strengthen U.S.-India commercial ties. www.usibc.com Founded in 1919, the Aerospace Industries Association represents America's leading manufacturers and suppliers of civil, military, and business aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial systems, space systems, aircraft engines, materiel, and related components, equipment services, and information technology. www.aia-aerospace.org