Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated the Safran Aircraft Engine Services India (SAESI) facility at the GMR Aerospace and Industrial Park near Hyderabad airport via videoconferencing. The facility, set up by French aerospace major Safran, is India’s first deep-level aircraft engine Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) centre established by a global original equipment manufacturer.

Speaking at the inauguration, the Prime Minister said, “From today, India’s aviation sector is taking a new flight. Safran’s new facility will help establish India as a global MRO hub.” He said the facility will create new opportunities for young people in the aerospace sector and noted that Safran’s leadership had expressed confidence in India during meetings with him on November 24.

PM Modi said that India’s aviation sector has grown rapidly in recent years. “Today, India stands among the fastest-growing domestic aviation markets in the world,” he said, adding that India’s domestic market is now the third largest. He said rising aspirations of people are driving demand for air travel, and Indian airlines have ordered more than 1,500 new aircraft to meet future needs.