Rolls-Royce CEO Tufan Erginbilgic has articulated a vision to establish India as a "home market" for the British engineering giant, signaling a deepening strategic partnership and commitment to the South Asian nation. Erginbilgic's statement, made during his visit to India as part of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's delegation, underscores Rolls-Royce's intent to significantly expand its in-country capabilities and foster collaborations across the air, land, and sea domains.
Erginbilgic's remarks come against the backdrop of India's pursuit of self-reliance and technological advancement, particularly in the co-development of jet engines for its next-generation fighter aircraft. Rolls-Royce, a key player in the production of fighter jet engines, is poised to collaborate with an Indian entity should the jet engine program between India and the UK materialize.
"We have deep ambitions to develop India as a home for Rolls-Royce, building on our strong and successful partnership," Erginbilgic stated. He emphasized the company's competitively advantaged technologies, spanning air, land, and sea applications, which position Rolls-Royce to build in-country capabilities and foster strategic partnerships. These collaborations, according to Erginbilgic, will accelerate India's progress towards becoming a "Viksit Bharat" (developed India).
Rolls-Royce's ambitions align with India's goals for self-reliance in defense, energy independence, and growth in connectivity, including the development of world-class AI infrastructure. The company aims to leverage its nine-decade legacy and growing footprint in India to build a robust ecosystem of people, products, capabilities, and partnerships.
A key component of Rolls-Royce's strategy involves expanding in-country capabilities through strategic local partnerships and talent development. The company aims to at least double its supply chain sourcing from India by 2030, demonstrating its commitment to local manufacturing and job creation.
Rolls-Royce recently inaugurated its newly expanded Global Capability and Innovation Centre in India, which will serve as a hub for digital capabilities, enterprise services, and engineering teams supporting civil aerospace and defense. Poised to become the company's largest capability hub, the center will support global corporate functions across civil, defense, and power systems businesses while advancing digital and engineering expertise.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer affirmed Rolls-Royce's significance as a "symbol of British excellence" and lauded the company's commitment to growth in India. Starmer emphasized that Rolls-Royce's expansion in India supports the UK's "Plan for Change," driving economic growth, creating jobs, and strengthening UK-India ties.
Rolls-Royce's focus on India aligns with the India-UK Vision 2035, which aims to strengthen the economic partnership between the two nations. The company's participation in key industry dialogues during Starmer's visit further underscores its commitment to this vision.
