After discussion in 2011, an MOU was signed between Reliance and Dassault in 2012, Eric Trappier, CEO, Dassault Aviation, tells ET Now.
Edited excerpts:
The Opposition says that Rs 30,000 crore given by Dassault to Reliance as a JV partner has been gifted to them. What is your take on that?
No, it is totally untrue. We have a joint venture, Dassault
Reliance Aerospace.
We are funding Reliance to become a company that manufactures parts of Falcon and Rafale. The capital today is about Rs 70 crore, 49% is supported by Dassault and 51% supported by Reliance. What Dassault has already given as the capital of the company is 49% of Rs 70 crore. It is going to be upgraded step by step in order to have the right capital for operating the company. This will go up to Rs 850 crore, half funded by Dassault and half by Reliance.
It has nothing to do with the big figures that we are hearing.
There is a lot of confusion also on the statement of Mr Holland that it was compulsory to sign up with Reliance to get the contract for the aircraft?
Yes, Mr Holland corrected his wording or clarified his wording and said that the two partners have found each other by themselves. At the same time, we had an agreement with Reliance after discussion in 2011 and an MOU was signed between Reliance and Dassault in 2012.