India Working To Be $4 Billion MRO Hub By 2030: PM Modi Outlines Bold Vision For Growing Country's Aviation Sector

In a major pitch for foreign investment into India's rapidly growing aviation ecosystem, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (3 June) asserted that the sector is poised to scale new heights, backed by a forward-looking regulatory framework and infrastructure expansion.

Speaking at the 81st Annual General Meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in Delhi, PM Modi invited global aviation giants to invest in India’s aviation economy, highlighting the new Indian Aircraft Act that aligns the country's aviation regulations with international standards.

As per a report by The Business Line, “The new Indian Aircraft Act ensures a streamlined regulatory framework, ease of compliance, and a simplified tax structure, which presents a significant investment opportunity for global aviation companies,” he said.

He noted that the growth of this sector translates into “new flights, new jobs, and new possibilities” for the Indian youth, adding that pilots, engineers, crew, and ground staff stand to benefit.

Calling Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) a “sunrise sector”, the Prime Minister said India is building toward a $4 billion MRO hub by 2030. “From 96 MRO units in 2014, we now have 154,” he added, crediting reforms like 100 per cent FDI, GST reduction, and tax rationalisation.

Going beyond “Make in India,” Modi urged global companies to embrace “Design in India,” asserting that the country is now part of the global aviation value chain — “from design to delivery.”

He also celebrated India’s rise to become the third-largest domestic aviation market in the world, with 240 million flyers annually, projected to reach 500 million by 2030. Cargo handling, too, is expected to leap from 3.5 million to 10 million metric tonnes by decade’s end.

Citing the success of the UDAN regional air connectivity scheme, he said over 1.5 crore passengers had taken their first flight under the initiative.

“Today, India is not just flying more, but flying high — with purpose and pride,” PM Modi concluded.