India’s challenges with Offsets began back in 2005. Major revisions were introduced in 2008, 2012, 2016, and most recently in 2020. Each phase aimed to unlock the full potential of offsets while simplifying and adding flexibility to their implementation. However, the actual results turned out quite differently. Today, India stands on the brink of a significant shift—from Offsets to a comprehensive model of Industrial Cooperation. The largest and most influential global Aerospace & Defense (A&D) conglomerates have become Tier-1 players in the Indian market, and the concept of Offsets has been decisively replaced by a focus on ‘Indigenous Content’. 2025 will bring once again a new set of guidelines, though their exact form remains uncertain. I invite you to join me on this journey as we learn from past experiences and prepare ourselves for the future in one of the world’s most dynamic A&D markets.
Ankur is a key member of the Airbus Defence and Space team in India, currently managing the Industrial Cooperation commitments under the C295i contract with the Indian Air Force. He brings a critical ‘India’ perspective to cooperation projects, ensuring compliance with India’s stringent Offset Guidelines. Ankur joined Airbus in 2019, initially contributing to the Strategy & Industrial Cooperation team at Airbus Helicopters. Before Airbus, he served as Vice President at EY India, leading strategy, diligence and M&A projects across the Indian aerospace and defense ecosystem. Ankur is an experienced speaker at the GICA forum, having presented in 2015 (Philadelphia), 2017 (Kuala Lumpur), and 2022 (Madrid). Ankur has completed his Master’s degree from the Delhi School of Economics and started his career as a Marine Engineer for one of the imminent global shipping companies, M/s A.P. Moller Maersk of Denmark.
