In a move to streamline the civil helicopter market in India, Airbus Helicopters and the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate the financing of helicopter purchases across the country.
The agreement aims to support Indian civil helicopter operators by providing them with financial solutions to acquire Airbus helicopters, thus bolstering the nation's rotary-wing aircraft sector.
The MoU was signed by Rahul Priyadarshi, Chief General Manager of SIDBI, and Sunny Guglani, Head of Airbus Helicopters in India and South Asia. According to the agreement, the partners will leverage Airbus's industry expertise and SIDBI's financing capabilities to identify potential operators and offer them specialised financial packages.
“The combination of our exceptional range of products and extensive industry knowledge, along with SIDBI's appealing financing options, will have a crucial impact on the growth of the civil helicopter sector in India,” said Sunny Guglani.
He emphasised that the agreement marks a significant milestone in making rotary-wing aircraft more accessible to operators in India, potentially transforming them into essential tools for the nation's development.
“This is a new area in which SIDBI will provide financing to helicopter operators; it is anticipated that this will pave the way for financing of MSMEs in this sector,” said Rahul Priyadarshi.
He also underscored SIDBI's strategic expansion into helicopter financing, which aligns with its mission to support and develop the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector in India.
SIBI, established under an Act of Parliament in 1990, has been entrusted with the responsibility of promoting, financing, and developing the MSME sector. SIDBI aims to become a one-stop solution for the financial and developmental needs of the MSME sector, making it globally competitive.
This partnership is expected to significantly impact the availability and financing of civil helicopters in India, marking a substantial entry for SIDBI into the domain of helicopter financing and addressing the financial and developmental requirements of India's rapidly expanding rotary-wing industry.
