Airbus willing to invest Rs 5,000 crore in India, says it takes two to tango

Airbus Group said it can invest a whopping Rs 5,000 crore in India under the ‘Make in India’ programmes, adding it takes two to tango.

Pierre de Bausset, President and Managing Director of Airbus Group India, said, “We are ready to do the same but it takes two to tango. We need the government to actually give us contract.”

Meanwhile, European defence major Airbus Group also today cautioned that 49 per cent FDI limit in defence sector cannot fetch India the industry or the right original equipment manufacturer.

"..forget about 49 per cent. It is not going to get an industry and it is not going to get OEMs (original equipment manufacturer) of quality. You may get a few but not the right ones," said Pierre.

Pitching for "fair business", he said that in the beginning, their Indian partners will need them a lot before they become the real champions that India has in mind.

"And when they need us a lot in the beginning, I want fair business. Fair business means that we need to have levels of controls that are appropriate for the risks that we are taking.

"So setting the limit at 49 per cent or whatever amount is not... you have to think in terms of how do you attract us, how do you attract talent, how do you make it a good win-win partnership and not a very straight-jacket in the beginning," he said addressing reporters here ahead of the Defence Expo later this month.