Cameron supports 'Make in India'; offers help to make fighter jets

London, April 29, 2015: British Prime Minister David Cameron praised India's initiative to become a global manufacturing hub and offered technological assistance to achieve its targets, including in developing its "own world class fighter aircraft" that is "better than Rafale." In an exclusive interview to Asian Lite newspaper based in London, the prime minister said Britain is ready to help India's state-owned Hindustan Aeronautical Limited to develop world class fighter jets. "The British offer of Eurofighter Typhoon to India is still on table," Cameron said. "It will come along with technological and engineering assistance for India to develop its own world class fighter aircraft. It will be a better deal than Rafale." Cameron was commenting on India's decision to buy Rafale fighters from France over the Eurofighter Typhoon of European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS). During a recent official visit to France, Modi agreed to buy 36 Rafale fighter aircraft off the shelf. This was part of a $24 billion defence deal for 126 aircraft aiming to replace outdated Russian-built MiG aircraft with modern Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA). But the deal is under cloud as France is reportedly hesitant to share the technology to build the remaining lot of Rafale in India. "India is going to play a very big role in the success of British economy," Cameron said. "Trade and investment relations have improved in the last five years and we need more political cooperation on climate change and other issue," he added. "I am looking towards to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss a heavy agenda." He said the objectives of Conservative 2020 Vision are realistic and will bring dramatic changes in the socio-political landscape for the ethnic communities, including the 1.5 million Indians across the country.