Rolls-Royce, the aero-engine maker based in London, England, held its global board meeting in India for the first time.The company said the choice reflects the country’s growing importance to its business.
During the three-day visit, chief executive Tufan Erginbilgiç met India’s prime minister to discuss the company’s long-term plans. BusinessLine reported his words from a company statement: “India is very important to Rolls-Royce and our long-term growth ambitions. We want to deepen our role as a strategic partner supporting energy security, infrastructure growth, national security and connectivity, contributing to economic growth for India.”
Chair Dame Anita Frew and the board of directors met Rolls-Royce’s India leadership team and government stakeholders. Directors also toured the company’s global capability and innovation center in Bengaluru, in southern India, where teams in engineering, defense, global business services, digital and information technology showed the work they deliver from India.
A fighter engine anchors the plans
The largest India-specific project is a combat engine. In August, Rolls-Royce and Reliance Industries, India’s largest private-sector company, announced their strategic intent to partner on the design, development, manufacturing and delivery of a sovereign combat engine for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft program. The Economic Times reported that the aircraft is India’s fifth-generation stealth fighter, developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency under India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation.
The plan includes a dedicated Aerospace Gas Turbine Complex in India, anchored by the engine program. The companies describe it as a complete engine ecosystem covering design, development, manufacturing, testing, production and support through the engine’s life. The report noted that the August announcement was a statement of intent, and that the two companies have said they will explore setting up the complex. The project is at an early stage.
The prime minister is not a new contact for Erginbilgiç. The report said he met the prime minister in New Delhi, in northern India, in February, and joined the industry delegation during the British prime minister’s India visit last October.
Beyond combat aircraft, Rolls-Royce has a significant presence in India across civil aviation, defense and power systems. The company said it is pursuing opportunities in all three.
For American companies weighing India, the visit is a useful signal. A board meeting is where a company decides where to put its money and people, and Rolls-Royce chose to hold this one in India, alongside a visit to its engineering center in Bengaluru.
