- “We Deliver What We Promise”: Pitches for the state from Paris
- From Hosur to Paris : Tamil Nadu’s Aerospace Story Gets a Global Stage
- MROs, MSMEs and More : How Tamil Nadu Aims to Become India’s Aviation Engine
By Sangeeta Saxena
Le Bourget, Bourget. 17 June 2025. Tamil Nadu is not pitching from the sidelines anymore. It is all set to take the centre stage. “Every Dot on the Map of Tamil Nadu is Investment-Ready,” is the mantra with which the state is marching forward. In an exclusive conversation with Aviation & Defence Universe (ADU) at the Paris Airshow 2025, Dr. T.R.B. Rajaa, Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce, outlined the state’s ambitious roadmap for aerospace and defence manufacturing. Speaking from the GIFAS International Chalet, where the India-France MRO and Civil Aviation Dialogue was jointly hosted by GIFAS and FICCI, the minister shared Tamil Nadu’s plans for building an internationally competitive Aerospace & Defence ecosystem.
ADU. Dr. Rajaa, is this Tamil Nadu’s first major foray into aerospace, or has the state been active in this space earlier?
Dr. T.R.B. Rajaa. This is definitely not our first time, but it’s perhaps our most serious and structured pitch to date. We’ve made significant progress in sectors like automobiles, electronics, and textiles, and now we’re bringing that same focus to aerospace and defence. We may have started a bit behind due to regulatory delays and the early start some other states had—but we’re now aggressively catching up.
ADU. What infrastructure is in place to support this shift?
Dr. T.R.B. Rajaa. We already have dedicated aerospace and defence parks. One is coming up near Coimbatore, which is well supported by a strong local ecosystem. Then we have Hosur, which borders Bengaluru and is home to Air Works’ MRO. We’re building on that by proposing a new airport at Hosur, which will house a larger MRO facility. The upcoming Greenfield Parandur Airport near Chennai will also have a 1,000+ acre MRO zone. So we’re planning holistically—with Coimbatore, Chennai, Hosur, and even Kannadugathan in the south, where pilot training facilities are in development.
ADU. With India’s aviation market set to grow, how is Tamil Nadu preparing for the pilot and MRO demand?
Dr. T.R.B. Rajaa. India is looking at over 1,500 aircraft joining the fleet, and we’ll need a significant number of trained pilots and world-class MROs. Tamil Nadu is positioning itself as a hub for both pilot training and aircraft maintenance. The state has the right ecosystem, engineering talent, and infrastructure to support this scale of growth. We want more of our boys—and girls—flying these aircraft.
ADU. What kind of incentives is the state offering to attract aerospace investors?
Dr. T.R.B. Rajaa. Tamil Nadu offers the best incentive packages in the country—not just on paper, but in practice. What we promise, we deliver. That’s why major investors knock on our door first. We don’t inflate our numbers to impress—we stay realistic and reliable. Our incentives are tied directly to job creation and regional development. In fact, if you choose to invest beyond Chennai or Coimbatore, the incentive structure becomes even more attractive.
ADU. How is Tamil Nadu different from other Indian states in terms of preparedness?
Dr. T.R.B. Rajaa. Tamil Nadu is India’s most urbanised state, with top-tier infrastructure, education, and healthcare across its geography. If we were a country, we’d be in the top 50 economies globally. We are also the fastest growing state economy, clocking 9.69% growth compared to India’s 6% average. You can pick any spot on the map of Tamil Nadu, and you’ll find a well-connected, development-ready location.
ADU. What about military aviation and defence manufacturing?
Dr. T.R.B. Rajaa. Absolutely. We’re making a strong pitch for defence manufacturing too. It makes strategic sense to spread critical infrastructure across the country. Having everything concentrated in a few northern states is risky. Tamil Nadu is far from missile-prone zones, making it an ideal location for covert defence R&D and secure manufacturing. Our Coimbatore park even has direct access to an active military airstrip—a rare asset that makes defence operations smoother and more secure.
ADU. You’re planning to host AeroDefCon later this year in Tamil Nadu. What can we expect?
Dr. T.R.B. Rajaa. This will be the first time such a supply chain-focused aerospace and defence event is being hosted in Tamil Nadu. It’s happening because of a direct mandate from our Chief Minister. We’re planning B2B meetings, focused interactions, and international participation. We want to showcase Tamil Nadu’s manufacturing prowess and allow global OEMs to see the strength of our SME and MSME ecosystems firsthand.
ADU. Will land acquisition or financing assistance be a challenge for investors?
Dr. T.R.B. Rajaa. Not at all. We’ve already acquired land—300 acres in Coimbatore alone, with direct access to a military base. We also ensure fair compensation and strong community engagement, so our industrial development doesn’t face resistance. On the financial side, we’re open to viability gap funding where needed. Our state is fully committed to supporting both large investors and SMEs.
ADU. That’s an impressive roadmap. Any final message for global aerospace players?
Dr. T.R.B. Rajaa. My message is simple. Tamil Nadu is ready. Whether you’re a major OEM or a small supplier, the infrastructure, policy support, and human capital are already in place. The ecosystem is mature, and the opportunities are vast. It’s time the global aerospace world gave Tamil Nadu the attention it deserves.
With its urban readiness, economic strength, and strategic vision, Tamil Nadu is rapidly emerging as a serious contender in India’s aerospace and defence ecosystem. Under Dr. T.R.B. Rajaa’s leadership, the state is aligning infrastructure, policy, and talent to build a globally competitive ecosystem for aircraft manufacturing and maintenance. Leveraging its industrial legacy, skilled workforce, and policy-driven approach, the state has rapidly built specialised infrastructure such as aerospace and defence parks in Coimbatore and Hosur, while integrating civil and military aviation capabilities. With Greenfield airports like Parandur being planned with dedicated MRO zones, and new initiatives in pilot training, Tamil Nadu is aligning its regional strengths with national aviation growth. Backed by investor-friendly policies, reliable incentives, and strong political will, the state is not just participating in India’s aerospace and defence expansion—it is positioning itself as a strategic nucleus for future-ready manufacturing, R&D, and global collaboration. As the Paris Airshow 2025 demonstrated, Tamil Nadu is no longer happy following but aerospace diplomacy and industrial development.
As told to Sangeeta Saxena
