French President to visit Mirzapur, Varanasi: Focus on India-France strategic engagement, solar ties

“We have enhanced and ongoing cooperation in the defence, maritime, space, security, and energy-related sectors, and are increasingly working together on all issues of concern including terrorism, climate change, sustainable growth and development, infrastructure, smart urbanization, S&T cooperation, and youth exchanges. Macron’s visit is aimed at strengthening the bilateral economic, political and strategic dimension of our engagement,” the statement read.

François Hollande was the last French President to visit India in 2016 as the Chief Guest at the Republic Day celebrations. Modi visited France in June 2017, after Macron was elected as President. The bilateral trade between India and France for the period April 2016 to March 2017 reached US$ 10.95 billion. France is the 9th largest foreign investor in India with a cumulative investment of US$ 6.09 billion from April 2000 to October 2017. Close to 1,000 French companies are present in India. About 120 Indian companies have invested in excess of Euro 1 billion in France and employ close to 7,000 people.

“The India-France CEO’s Forum will take place during the visit. The visit is also aimed at forging not only strong manufacturing and technology partnerships, but also greater people to people contacts especially through greater exchanges of students and researchers,” the statement said.