India – France Relations Relations Between India and France Are Multi
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India – France Relations Relations between India and France are multi-faceted, close and special. In 1998, a ‘Strategic Partnership’ was announced and since then, relations have developed in a manner fully justifying the term ‘Strategic Partnership’. The relationship is based on shared values and real convergence on a whole range of regional and global issues. France was the first country with which India entered into an agreement on Civil Nuclear Cooperation. France has been a steadfast proponent and supporter of India’s candidature for permanent membership of a reformed UN Security Council. Major Visits: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France, April 2015 Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, paid a successful official visit to France during 9-12 April, 2015. Apart from being PM Modi’s first bilateral visit in Europe, this was also the first full bilateral visit to France in 9 years. Prime Minister had a tete-a- tete with Francois Hollande, President of French Republic and discussed various bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest during delegation-level talks. A Joint Statement was issued on the occasion. President Hollande also extended a unique honour of inviting Prime Minister for a boat ride with him on Seine River. The Prime Minister also met Parliamentary leaders of France. Mr. Claude Bartolone, President, French National Assembly hosted a lunch in honour of the Prime Minister, after their meeting at the National Assembly, in which regional and global issues and Parliamentary exchanges between the two countries were discussed. The Prime Minister was invited by MEDEF (French Business Confederation), to address business round-tables on Infrastructure and Defence-Manufacturing. The co-Chairs of the CEOs’ Forum presented the outcome of the 7th meeting of India France CEOs Forum which was held on 09 April 2015, to Indian PM and French President at a function organised at Elysee Palace on 10 April 2015. Prime Minister also addressed a large gathering at UNESCO, Paris, after a meeting with Ms. Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO and paid his tributes to the statue of Sri Aurobindo, installed in the UNESCO premises and inaugurated a web- portal dedicated to Yoga. He also travelled to Toulouse city in Midi-Pyrenees Region of France where he visited the manufacturing unit of Airbus and CNES (French National Centre for Space Studies) where he was given an overview of Indo-French cooperation in the field of Space, spanning five decades. He also interacted with elected representatives from French Regions, including the President of Regional Council of Midi-Pyrenees. Later, he paid homage to 4,700 Indian soldiers who lost their lives on the Western Front during the First World War, at the Neuve Chappelle Memorial. He also addressed a large gathering of Indians and persons of Indian Origin in France at the Carrousel du Louvre. Nineteen Agreements/MoUs were signed during the visit encompassing diverse areas of cooperation between India and France, such as Nuclear Energy, Space, Railways, Conservation of Cultural Heritage, Science and Technology, Sports, Tourism, Human exchanges, Renewable energy and Twinning of historical monuments etc. The two leaders also unveiled an Indo-French joint stamp commemorating the Fifty years of Space cooperation between the two countries. President Hollande’s Visit to India in February, 2013 India was the first country in Asia that President Francois Hollande chose for a bilateral visit when he paid a State visit to India on 14-15 February, 2013. He was accompanied by a 6 member Ministerial delegation as well as a large business delegation. A joint statement was issued at the conclusion of the delegation level talks. In Mumbai, he interacted with Indian business leaders. Four principal agreements signed during the visit were: (1) Cultural Exchange Programme (2) Letter of Intent on intensification of Cooperation in the fields of Education and Research (3) Statement of Intent for long-term Cooperation in Space (4) Joint Statement to follow-up and strengthen cooperation in the railway sector. In addition, there were a series of agreements signed in the Education, Science & Technology sectors. Other Visits: Shri. Prakash Javadekar, Minister of State for Environment, Forests and Climate attended the High-level Segment of the Joint 10th Conference of Parties to Vienna Convention and 26th Meeting of the Parties to Montreal Protocol from 20-21 November, 2014 in Paris. He also led the Indian Delegation at the Informal Ministerial Consultations on 20-21 July, 2015 in Paris. Shri Rao Inderjit Singh, Minister of State for Planning and Defence and Shri Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Minister of State for Transport visited Paris during 14-18.06.2015. Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State for Commerce (IC) visited Paris from 03-06 July, 2015. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius visited India on 5 February 2015 in connection with Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS), New Delhi. During the visit, he called on PM and met with EAM, Minister of Railways, and Minister of State for Environment, Forests and Climate Change and discussed issues of bilateral importance. Mme. Segolene Royale, Minister for Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy also attended DSDS. French Defence Minister, Mr. Jean- Yves Le Drian visited India on 24 February 2015 and met with his counterpart and NSA. Defense Minister Le Drian again visited India in the first week of May. Institutional Structure for dialogue: France and India have instituted Strategic Dialogue at the level of National Security Advisors. The latest round was held in New Delhi on 09 October 2014 which was led by NSA and Diplomatic Advisor to the French President. Earlier, the 25th round was held in Paris on 30 January, 2014. The last round of Annual Foreign Office Consultations at the level of Foreign Secretaries was held in Paris on 17 June, 2013. An Agreement on Mutual Exemption for Short Stay Visas for Diplomatic Passport Holders was signed during the visit. The 9th meeting of the Joint Working Group on Counter-terrorism was held in Pairs on 20 June 2014. The second round of the India-France cyber dialogue was held in Paris on 17 March, 2015 in New Delhi. The first round of the Track 1.5 India-France Annual Dialogue between the Observer Research Foundation, India and the Centre for International Studies and Research (CERI, Science Po – Paris) was held in Paris on 23 May, 2013. The 16th session of the Joint Committee for Economic and Technical Cooperation, at the level of Ministers of Commerce was held on 23-25 June, 2010 in Paris. The sixth edition of the India-France CEO’s Forum was held in Paris on 8-9 July, 2013.The latest session of India-France CEO’s Forum was held on 09 April, 2015. The first Annual Economic and Financial Dialogue was held in Paris on 29th October 2013 between Ministries of Finance of India and France. Also, first meeting of Joint Working on Sustainable Urban Development was held in Paris on 20 September 2013. The 9th meeting of Joint Working Group on IT was also held in Paris during October 2013. Bilateral Trade & Investment cooperation Trade: In 2014, the total trade in goods between France and India was € 7.87 billion, registering an increase of 11.16% from 2013. India’s exports to France were valued € 5.18 billion whereas French exports to India totalled € 2.69 billion. The year on year decline in bilateral trade between India and France seen in 2013 (when trade declined by 10.5% from 2012 figures) was reversed in 2014. In the 2014 calendar year, India-France bilateral trade increased by 11.16%, led largely by an increase in Indian exports to France which grew by 17.43% in this period. The growth in Indian exports was characterized by a 49.39% growth in export of refined petroleum products and a 28.51% growth in export of apparel and clothing material from India to France, which became India’s top two exports to France. In addition, product lines such as boilers and machinery (10.6%), organic chemicals (8.15%), electrical machinery and equipment (10.08%), marine food products (28.67%), vehicles, other than railways and parts (15.72%) and footwear (16.32%) also registered an increase in exports to France. The French imports from India, however, registered a slight decline (0.49%) in 2014. This was mostly on account of reduction in export of aircrafts to Indian companies (-8.9%). The export of optical and photographic equipment also declined (-10.89%) as did miscellaneous chemical products (- 19.04%). There was a sharp increase in export of iron and steel products, especially iron rails (51.06), mostly on account of export of Metro rails from France to India. Other products, which showed an increase in exports from France to India included organic chemicals (23%), plastics (6.5%) and boilers, machinery (5.7%). (Source: Statistics from the French Ministry of Finance and Public Accounts). Investments: France has emerged as a major source of FDI for India with about 750 big French companies already present in India. France is the 9th largest foreign investor in India with a cumulative investment of USD 4.65 billion from April 2000 to June 2015 which represent 1.80% of the total FDI inflows into India for the period. French companies continue to look at India as an attractive investment destination in order to expand their profits and diversify risks. Indian companies have also invested in France. They continued to look for investment opportunities in France in 2014, including investments projects by Air Works Indian Engineering and Avantha Group. The Pre-Engineering Agreement has since entered into force since July, 2015. Civil Nuclear Energy Cooperation: A landmark Agreement on Civil Nuclear Cooperation was signed between India and France on 30 September, 2008 during the visit of Prime Minister Dr.