Boeing setting up electronics, avionics facility in Bengaluru

Global aerospace major Boeing is set to invest Rs 1,152 crore to establish an electronics manufacturing and avionics assembly facility in Bengaluru, strengthening the city's position as a major aerospace and defence hub, a Karnataka government official said on Monday.

The state government has allotted 36 acres of land to Boeing India at the state-run Aerospace Park in Devanahalli, near Kempegowda International Airport in north Bengaluru, the official told IANS.

Boeing India President Pratyush Kumar met Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy at the state secretariat to discuss the proposed facility and its implementation.

The project is expected to create around 2,600 direct jobs once the facility becomes operational. It will form part of Boeing's wider Engineering and Technology Centre in India and is expected to support the company's growing aerospace activities in the country.

The state Cabinet approved the proposal earlier in September, including the allocation of land and other statutory clearances. Boeing plans to begin work on the project within the next three months and complete the first phase by 2019.

The company's investment proposal had originally been cleared by the previous Congress-led state government in December 2017. However, the project was delayed amid the Karnataka Assembly elections and the subsequent formation of the JD(S)-Congress coalition government.

Officials said the new facility would become one of Boeing's largest facilities outside the US and would significantly expand its manufacturing and engineering footprint in India.

According to Karnataka Udyog Mitra Managing Director B.K. Shivakumar, Boeing also plans to manufacture aircraft components and subsystems at the facility for both civilian and military aircraft.

Boeing has already maintained a significant presence in Bengaluru, where it has operated a global research and development centre for around a decade. The new investment is expected to deepen the company's involvement in India's aerospace manufacturing ecosystem.

The project also fits into Karnataka's broader strategy of attracting high-value aerospace and defence investments to the state. Bengaluru has developed a strong base of engineering talent, technology companies and research institutions, making it an important location for aerospace design, avionics, manufacturing and maintenance activities.

For Boeing, expanding its operations in India could provide access to the country's large pool of engineering professionals while also allowing greater participation by Indian suppliers in global aerospace programmes.