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Dubai: French defence,
aerospace and civilian technology major Thales not just believes
in creating employment for "enterprising and hard working" Indians
at its global projects but also intends to give them job security
with an offer of relocation.
In Dubai, for example, Thales is executing two major projects
among others - two new airport terminals and the Metro. In the
airport project alone, more than 40 percent of its 20,000-strong
contract workforce comprises Indian nationals.
"We have not just created these jobs for Indian nationals. We have
also helped enhance their skills. They are enterprising and hard
working," said Eric Lenseigne, managing director and country
director for the company's India operations.
"Now, we want to move a step forward. As and when we conclude
these projects and when the situation so demands, we even want to
relocate the workforce to India, or anywhere else," Lenseigne told
IANS during a visit to the airport and metro facilities here.
"In a way it is connected with our policy on 'multi-domesticity' -
be a global player in outlook but remain a local partner in
progress. This works well both ways. The workers get a sense of
job security and we are able to retain talent."
It is with the help of a large section of Indian workers that
Thales has been able to give Dubai a world-class Metro -- which
also holds the record for running the longest such driverless and
automated service.
Not to be outdone, the new Dubai International Airport is a marvel
- structurally and in terms of security and communications. Once
the expansion concludes, it will handle 70 million passengers
annually, with 10,000 access control points and 1,500 surveillance
cameras.
"Airport security must be ever vigilant. But for passengers, it
must also be the least obtrusive," said Khalifa Suhail Al Zaffin,
executive chairman of Dubai World Central, a government initiative
to make the emirate an aviation metropolis.
"We think we have achieved the desired objective with a
world-class safety and security system with a mix of technology
and intelligence," added the executive chairman, whose group also
overseas all airports projects in Dubai.
According to Lenseigne, Thales has installed an ultra-modern
communications and security solution at the new airport that
ensures highest quality of safety and security to the operator and
passengers.
The company is currently implementing the security and
communication solutions for the expansion of Dubai International
Airport's Concourse 3, after the successful opening of Terminal 3
Concourse 2.
With over six decades of operations in India, covering both
military and civilian space, Thales also has two joint venture
agreements with Rolta and Samtel. It also has a technology company
in Chennai to develop software for its global customers.
Almost 90 percent of the company's $260 million business in India
comes from the defence sector. It employs some 250 people in
India.
(Arvind Padmanabhan can be reached at arvind.p@ians.in)
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