On Thursday, July 13, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched into a two-day go to to France on the invitation of President Emanuel Macron.
This go to is of particular significance since Prime Minister Modi is the visitor of honour on the prestigious “Bastille Day Parade,” which is scheduled for July 14. Every yr in Paris, the Bastille Day Parade is an enormous army show commemorating the historic French Revolution. It honours France’s nationwide delight whereas showcasing the nation’s army prowess.
An Indian tri-services contingent will participate on this yr’s occasion with the intention to reinforce its significance, representing the strengthening of ties and shared beliefs between India and France. India’s participation within the Bastille Day Parade, as an ascending international energy, emphasises its broadening affect on the worldwide scene and displays the strengthening ties between the 2 democracies.
Taking to Twitter on Thursday, PM Modi talked about his go to to France as he seemed ahead to productive discussions with the French President and interplay with the Indian diaspora and outstanding CEOs.
“Leaving for Paris, where I will take part in the Bastille Day celebrations. I look forward to productive discussions with President @EmmanuelMacron and other French dignitaries. Other programs include interacting with the Indian community and top CEOs,” PM Modi tweeted.
Leaving for Paris, the place I’ll participate within the Bastille Day celebrations. I look ahead to productive discussions with President @EmmanuelMacron and different French dignitaries.
Other programmes embrace interacting with the Indian neighborhood and prime CEOs. https://t.co/jwT0CtRZyB
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 13, 2023
PM Modi referred to his UAE go to and mentioned, “On the 15th, I will be in UAE for an official visit. I shall be holding talks with HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. I am confident our interactions will add strength to India-UAE friendship and benefit the people of our countries.”
25 years of India-France partnership
As this yr marks the twenty fifth anniversary of the India-France partnership PM Modi in his departure assertion outlined the shut cooperation between the 2 nations throughout varied sectors together with protection, area, civil nuclear, blue financial system, commerce, funding, schooling, tradition, and people-to-people ties.
Thursday at midday, PM Modi will arrive in Paris and have his first assembly with French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne, adopted by a gathering with Gérard Larcher, President of the French Senate. On Thursday night, he’s going to interact in an interplay with members of the Indian neighborhood, which will likely be adopted by a personal dinner that the French President will host on the Elysee Palace.
India and France to take a leap in protection cooperation with the signing of Rafale Marine deal
The signing of offers totaling greater than 90,000 crore, which incorporates the acquisition of 26 Rafale M plane (22 single-seat variations and 4 double-seat coach variations), in addition to three Scorpene submarines, is likely one of the main highlights. These will serve to spice up the Indian armed forces’ protection capabilities.
As a short-term resolution, the Indian Navy has been trying into choices to interchange its ageing MiG-29K. As a long-term resolution to its want for carrier-based fighters, India continues to be engaged on creating its personal Twin-Engine Deck-Based fighters (TEDBF). However, as a result of will probably be a while earlier than the plane is developed in-house, the Navy is reportedly opting to maneuver forward with the acquisition to satisfy its aviation necessities.
Deepening cooperation in manufacturing, digital financial system and clear power
Although strategic cooperation has taken the middle stage of dialogue round PM Modi’s France go to, the 2 nations are additionally anticipated to increase cooperation within the area of the digital financial system, clear power, and the manufacturing sector.
On July 14, 10–12 enterprise executives from all sides are scheduled to satisfy on the Quai d’Orsay, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for the India–France CEOs Forum. Paul Hermelin, Chairman of data expertise large Capgemini SE, will lead the French aspect whereas Hari Bhartia, Co-Chairman of the Jubilant Bhartia Group, will co-chair the Indian aspect. The French authorities has additionally designated Hermilin because the administrator for enterprise and commerce with India. Around 200,000 folks work for Capgemini in India, and a 6G lab will quickly be developed there.
It is attention-grabbing to notice that with an total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) contribution of $10,389 million from April 2000 to September 2022, France ranks because the eleventh largest overseas investor in India, underscoring the sturdy financial ties between the 2 nations.
If issues go proper, the potential launch of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI)—a digital cost expertise, by PM Modi in France can be a breakthrough within the area of digital financial system.
PM Modi’s go to can be prone to concentrate on clear power. Small modular reactors, batteries, and inexperienced hydrogen would be the foremost matters of dialogue. In this context, the 2 events have superior technical discussions on the 8000-page techno-commercial supply made by France in 2019 and made vital progress on the 1650×6 MW Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project.
During a media briefing on Wednesday (July 12), Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra mentioned, “The techno-commercial arrangements of the Jaitapur cooperation project and also the engineering elements of those need to converge together for the concretization of cooperation to materialize. Now this is something on which both sides, the EDF and the relevant French authorities on their side and the Department of Atomic Energy and other agencies on our side, are very intensely engaged with each other to address all elements relating to progress in the Jaitapur project.”
The two nations may also discuss how they will work collectively on civil nuclear points, area, cyber safety expertise, counterterrorism, local weather change, renewable power, and the worldwide photo voltaic alliance.
The state go to of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to France could have a major influence on the event of bilateral ties, defence capabilities, financial cooperation, and strategic ties between India, France, and the European Union. His French go to additionally demonstrates India’s willpower to fend off China’s increasing affect.
