US aerospace industry seeks Indian partnerships

A survey conducted by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) has concluded that more than 86 per cent of US aerospace companies plan to enter into business partnerships with Indian aerospace companies. The AIA officials completed their first-ever trade mission to India between 3-7 December 2006, accompanied by executives from 13 US aerospace suppliers and several prime contractors including United Technologies Corporation, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Pratt & Whitney. AIA officials said the purpose of the mission was to help facilitate US defense sales as part of a broader effort to effort to improve the trading relationship and the overall strategic relationship between the two countries. The US ability to gain entry into the Indian aerospace market will largely depend on the ability of US companies to follow through on their plans to form partnerships with small Indian businesses.