Excellency Pedro Sanchez, Governor of Gujarat Acharya Devvrat ji, Bharat’s Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh ji, Foreign Minister Shri S. Jaishankar ji, the popular Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel, Ministers from Spain and the State Government, all members of the Airbus and Tata teams, ladies and gentlemen!
Namaskar!
Buenos Días!
My friend, Mr. Pedro Sanchez, is visiting Bharat for the first time. From today, we are giving a new direction to the partnership between Bharat and Spain. We are inaugurating the factory for the production of the C-295 Transport Aircraft. This factory will not only strengthen Bharat-Spain relations but also empower our mission, ‘Make in India, Make for the World’. My best wishes to the entire Airbus and Tata teams. Recently, we lost the great son of the nation, Ratan Tata ji. Had Ratan Tata ji been with us today, he would have been the happiest among us. Wherever his soul may be, I am sure he would be feeling immense joy today.
Friends,
The C-295 aircraft factory reflects the new work culture of New Bharat. From idea to execution, the speed with which Bharat operates today is evident here. The construction of this factory began two years ago in October. And this factory is ready for aircraft production in October itself. I have always focused on avoiding unnecessary delays in planning and execution. When I was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, a decision was taken to set up a factory to manufacture Bombardier train coaches in Vadodara. That factory was also set up for production within a record time. Today, we are exporting metro coaches made in that factory to other countries. I am confident that aircraft produced in this factory will also be exported worldwide in the future.
Friends,
The famous Spanish poet Antonio Machado once wrote:
"Traveler, there is no path... The path is made by walking."
It implies that the moment we take the first step towards our goal, paths begin to form. Today, Bharat’s defence manufacturing ecosystem is reaching new heights. Had we not taken solid steps a decade ago, it would have been impossible to reach this milestone today. At that time, no one could imagine large-scale defence manufacturing in Bharat. Priorities and identity then were centred on imports. But we chose to tread a new path, setting new goals, and today we can see the results.
Friends,
To transform any possibility into prosperity, the right plan and the right partnership are essential. The transformation of Bharat’s defence sector is an example of the right plan and the right partnership. In the past decade, the country has made decisions that fostered a vibrant defence industry in Bharat. We expanded private sector participation in defence manufacturing, made public sector units efficient, converted ordnance factories into seven large companies, empowered DRDO and HAL, and developed two major defence corridors in UP and Tamil Nadu. These initiatives have infused the defence sector with new energy. Schemes like iDEX (Innovation for Defence Excellence) have fuelled start-ups, and in the last 5-6 years, nearly 1,000 new defence start-ups have emerged in Bharat. In the past 10 years, Bharat’s defence exports have increased by 30 times. Today, we are exporting defence equipment to over 100 countries in the world.
Friends,
Today, we are highly focused on skills and job creation in Bharat. This factory by Airbus and Tata will also generate thousands of jobs in Bharat. The indigenous manufacturing of 18,000 aircraft parts is set to begin due to this project. One part may be manufactured in one part of the country, while another part may be produced elsewhere, and who will manufacture these parts? Our micro and small enterprises (MSMEs) are going to lead this work. We are already one of the largest suppliers of parts to major aircraft companies worldwide. This new aircraft factory will give a boost to new skills and new industries in Bharat.
Friends,
I see this event as going beyond just manufacturing transport aircraft. Over the past decade, you have seen unprecedented growth and transformation in Bharat’s aviation sector. We are expanding air connectivity to hundreds of smaller cities across the country. We are working to make Bharat a hub for aviation and MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul). This ecosystem will pave the way for ‘Made in India’ civil aircraft in the future. You must be aware that various Indian airlines have placed orders for 1,200 new aircraft. This means that in the future, this factory will play a crucial role in the design and manufacturing of civil aircraft to meet the needs of both Bharat and the world.
Friends,
Vadodara city will act as a catalyst in these efforts of Bharat. This city is already a strong centre for MSMEs, and we also have the Gati Shakti University here. This university is preparing professionals for various sectors. Vadodara has numerous companies related to the pharma sector, engineering and heavy machinery, chemicals and petrochemicals, and power and energy equipment. Now, this entire region is set to become a major hub for aviation manufacturing in Bharat. I congratulate the Gujarat government, Chief Minister Bhupendra Bhai, and his entire team for their modern industrial policies and decisions.
Friends,
Vadodara has another special characteristic. It is an important cultural city in Bharat, a city of heritage. Hence, I am especially pleased to welcome all of you from Spain here. Cultural connections hold a special significance between Bharat and Spain. I recall Father Carlos Valles, who came from Spain and settled in Gujarat, dedicating fifty years of his life here and enriching our culture through his thoughts and writings. I was fortunate to meet him several times. We honoured him with the Padma Shri for his remarkable contributions. In Gujarat, we lovingly called him Father Valles, and he used to write in Gujarati. His books have enriched Gujarati literature and our cultural heritage.
Friends,
I have heard that yoga is very popular in Spain. Indian fans also admire Spain’s football. Yesterday’s match between Real Madrid and Barcelona was widely discussed in Bharat, and Barcelona’s stunning victory became a topic of discussion here too. I guarantee that fans of both clubs in Bharat engage in banter just as passionately as those in Spain.
Friends,
Food, films, and football—all these elements are part of a strong people-to-people connection between our nations. I am delighted that Bharat and Spain have decided to celebrate 2026 as the India-Spain Year of Culture, Tourism, and AI.
Friends,
The partnership between Bharat and Spain is like a prism, which is multidimensional, vibrant, and ever-evolving. I am confident that today’s event will inspire many new joint collaboration projects between Bharat and Spain. I also invite the Spanish industry and innovators to come to Bharat and become part of our development journey. Once again, my best wishes to the Airbus and Tata teams for this project.
