This time, he will also be attending the Republic Day parade on Tuesday in New Delhi as the chief guest.
French President Francois Hollande has landed in India for a three-day visit, where he will be attending the India-France business summit along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Hollande is flanked by corporate honchos from the country and Indian counterparts. This is the French President's second state visit to India. This time, he will also be attending the Republic Day parade on Tuesday in New Delhi as the chief guest.
Soon after landing, here's what Hollande said about strategic ties with India:
"I also come to India to strengthen our relationship in several areas: defence, space, and civil nuclear energy. As well as education, research, culture. Our cooperation on the fight against climate change and on clean energies has taken on an unprecedented importance.
And India has contributed to the success of the Paris climate conference. There we launched the Solar Alliance and committed to concrete programs in renewable energies, energy storage, urban development.
My visit will enable us to conclude a series of new agreements and take a step towards the implementation of the agreements we signed last April in Paris. I am thinking of railways, smart cities, food security, higher education. As well as cinema. The variety of subjects reflects the density of what France and India can do together."
On the likelihood of the crucial Rafale deal being inked on his visit here:
"Our cooperation on defence is a part of our strategic partnership. It is based on trust, a very strong trust between both our countries.
The Rafale is a major project for India and France. It will pave the way for an unprecedented industrial and technological cooperation, including 'Make in India', for the next 40 years. Agreeing on the technicalities of this arrangement obviously takes time, but we are on the right track."
On what the French think about India's recent reforms to ease business, FDI investment:
"I am accompanied by a large business delegation. French companies invest a lot in India. The stock is now over 20 billion euros. French companies offer 3 lakh qualified jobs and invest in professional training. Almost 1,000 French companies are present in India and they are successful.
Let me give you a few examples: Cap Gemini IT will reach one lakh jobs in India, a thousand times more than the 100 people employed 15 years ago. Safran Morphodeveloped, for India, the biometric technology that made it possible to register one billion Indians for the ID program Aadhaar.
Alstom Transport recently signed a contract for the production of 800 electric locomotives and will invest in a production unit 'Make in India' in Bihar.
Following the rise of foreign direct investment's cap from 26 to 49%, AXA made a major investment to increase its share in Bharti group. There are dozens of such examples. Sanofi will soon launch brand new vaccine production units near Hyderabad for India and for export."
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 "French President Francois Hollande")
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