Prime Minister Narendra Modi made headlines on Thursday by declaring the setup of an advanced aeronautics training center in Kanpur, in partnership with France. Located at the NSTI, this National Centre of Excellence will focus on critical areas like aircraft maintenance, defense production, and airport management, announced alongside French President during innovation year festivities.
Funded through the PM-SETU program, the center represents a strategic upgrade to India’s vocational training landscape. It will offer cutting-edge programs to meet the demands of booming industries, creating thousands of jobs and elevating India’s position in global aviation.
Minister Jayant Chaudhary emphasized its role in overhauling ITIs. ‘We’re building a chain of world-class aviation experts, fortifying India-France bonds in tech-driven fields,’ he remarked. The LoI exchange commits both nations to collaborative curricula, faculty exchanges, periodic reviews, and mobility frameworks.
This follows a recent MoU on skills and TVET, expanding into aerospace collaboration. Detailed agreements on activities will follow, ensuring seamless implementation. For India, with its expanding airports and defense needs, this center is a game-changer, promising skilled manpower that fuels self-reliance and international partnerships.
As the aviation market grows at breakneck speed, Kanpur’s facility will be instrumental in nurturing talent, from MRO specialists to defense innovators. It’s a testament to visionary leadership, blending diplomacy with development for a skilled, future-ready India.