Aerospace and defence major, Thales, sees big future in the transportation sector in India. In an informal interaction with SP’s M.A.I. Editor-in Chief Jayant Baranwal, Eric Lenseigne, Managing Director & Country Director, Thales India said that he is bullish about the scope of business with railways transportation sector in India (Indian Railways and metro railway). Seeing great potential in the skilled manpower available in the country, Lenseigne delightedly said, “India has a great skill set.”

Lenseigne indicated that Indian transportation sector will grow to represent a market of approximately Euro 5 billion over the next 10 years. Optimistic about the company’s expansion in India, Lenseigne further added that Thales hopes to capture a share of the market. Keeping this in view, the company is looking forward to developing technical expertise and opening industrial facilities in the country as soon as a few orders are received from this promising sector. These facilities will perform product assemble and provide maintenance and after sale support to the Thales’ customers.

Lenseigne was in Sweden for three years before taking over as Country Head, Thales India. He is all praises for the sophisticated technologies in Sweden. Same time sees immense capability in India too.

Elaborating on the Thales-Samtel joint venture (JV) signed in 2010, he said that the collaboration is going well and by 2013, the JV is likely to have started effective operation. Besides the Indian orders which will gradually be met by the JV, some export orders could be taken up by the JV.

Thales is also working on another JV with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) thereby developing relationship with state-owned as well as private industry – said Lenseigne.

It is worth mentioning here that Thomson-CSF - now Thales was instrumental in the inception of BEL.