VALPOI
Goa took off to the skies in a small way as the State's first helicopter repair facility was thrown open on Sunday at Sattari, with hopes of it developing into a copter engine manufacturing centre.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar inaugurated Helicopter Engines MRO Pvt Limited (HE-MRO), a joint venture of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Safran Helicopter Engines (SafranHE), France, at Sattari.
Speaking on the occasion, Parrikar said this joint venture will one day reach to a greater height, the repair and maintenance work will soon take the company to a helicopter engine manufacturing work. “I hope to see this joint venture centre develops from a copter repair and maintenance operation to a helicopter engine manufacturing facility,” Parrikar said.
He also advised the Goa government to establish a training centre in Goa for skilled local youth so that trained youth get employment easily in this company. “Deserving local candidates should be preferred for the job at this new company,” he stressed.
“I have a broad vision and this is small beginning which will expand slowly. This is a kind of industry we were looking for in Goa. We do have technical manpower and lots of talent available locally. Industries like Goa Shipyard Limited and HE-MRO will provide major employment opportunities in near future,” stated Parrikar.
“The investment for the project is Rs 170 crore and 5,200 technicians from Goa will benefit from this project,” added Parrikar.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Parsekar thanked Parrikar for setting up the joint venture project in remote village of Goa which is a perfect beginning of 'make in India' concept.
“BJP government is keen in providing employment and setting up such industry is testimony that our government is committed in delivering the same,” he said.
Parsekar said the foundation stone for Mopa airport will be laid soon, besides making an electronic city in North Goa, all these projects will benefit people from Sattari.
Parsekar, Speaker Anant Shet, Opposition Leader Pratapsing Rane, Sakhali MLA Dr Pramod Sawant, EDC chairman and Panaji MLA Siddharth Kunkolienkar, CMD HAL Suvarna Raju, CEO Safran Helicopter Engines, Bruno Even and other senior officials were present.
The JV will provide maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for Safran TM 333, 2B2 and HAL Shakti engines installed on HAL-built helicopters operated by the Defence Services.
In his address, T Suvarna Raju said the JV reflects the longstanding relationship between HAL and Safran Helicopter Engines. The MRO centre plans to progressively support engines of International Operators and other engines as mutually agreed between the partners.
With a fleet of over 1,000 engines, including 250 TM333 and 250 Shakti, India’s armed forces is one of the largest operators of Safran-designed helicopter engines. Shakti is the Indian designation for the Safran Ardiden 1H1, co-developed with HAL and produced under license.
