Alsthom eyes venture with Indian company

Thu, May 15 01:15 AM

French locomotive giant Alsthom would be interested in setting up a manufacturing facility in joint venture with an Indian partner if manages to win a handsome contract for supplying locomotives to Indian Railways, the French Minister of State for Transport, Dominique Bussereau said on Wednesday. "India has a market for about 1000 locomotives which is of great interest to Alsthom.

We have provided similar locomotives to China and Argentina and if the contract is big enough Alsthom could also look at manufacturing facility in India," Bussereau said at the 'India-France: Innovative Solutions for Transport Infrastructure organized by the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries. Bussereau did not specify details regarding the investment Alsthom proposes to make in India.

Alsthom has supplied electric locomotives to Morocco and Argentina. It has opened a manufacturing facility in Argentina for manufacturing locomotives to be supplied to that country Bussereau said.

"A sound public transport", Bussereau said, "is necessary for any developing nation, this needs massive investments and technical expertise, this can not be provided by the government alone. Public private partnership is necessary for such massive investment and that is how we have developed our systems in France," he said.

India needs significant investments in the public transport sector and France would be keen to prepare project reports and conduct studies for providing solutions for India's public transport sector, Bussereau added. France, Bussereau said is also in talks with helicopter maker Eurocopter for opening a helicopter pilot training school in India.

"We have started a dialogue with Eurocopter and in days we will find out how we can finalise the project," Bussereau said adding that India was short of helicopter pilots and his country would like to provide requisite training to meet the shortage. Bussereau was hopeful that the Indian government would soon take a decision for high speed trains.

" I think the Indian government is keen on the high-speed trains. It is for the Indian government to take a decision for high-speed trains.

We will be able to meet their requirements if they so decide," he said. Regarding the aviation sector, Bussereau said India is an important customer for Airbus and added that France is interested in Indian airports, modernizing its Air Traffic Control systems and allied areas.

RECOMMEND THIS STORY