New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron held talks in Jaipur on Thursday and agreed to reinforce India-France cooperation in defence, area and civil-nuclear sectors. In addition they signed a defence industrial roadmap and a defence area partnership settlement. Overseas Secretary Vinay Kwatra, who briefed the media on Friday, stated the defence industrial roadmap will establish alternatives for co-designing, co-development and co-production of army {hardware} and constructing defence provide chains. He stated the intention is to satisfy the defence wants of India and France and in addition to contribute to the safety partnership with different international locations.
Kwatra stated the defence area partnership settlement will allow joint work on an area situational consciousness programme, which is necessary for creating army satellites and sharing data on area visitors and particles.
He additionally stated that Tata Superior Techniques Ltd and Airbus Helicopters have entered into an industrial partnership for joint manufacturing of H125 helicopters in India with a big indigenous and localisation part. He stated Airbus SE will arrange an meeting line in India for the helicopters.
The overseas secretary stated Modi and Macron additionally mentioned varied elements of civil-nuclear power cooperation and that there was a really constructive and ahead leaning dialog on small modular reactors (SMRs). He stated the civil-nuclear cooperation has a number of parts equivalent to localisation, monetary viability and price effectiveness and that the discussions are ongoing.
He additionally stated that Modi and Macron exchanged views on the state of affairs within the Pink Sea and the potential disruptions that it might trigger, in addition to the battle in Gaza. He stated there was no announcement on India’s proposed procurement of 26 naval variants of Rafale jets and three Scorpene submarines from France as the worth negotiations are nonetheless underway.
The overseas secretary stated Modi and Macron additionally firmed up agreements for reinforcing engagement in areas of healthcare, schooling, coaching, analysis and sustainable growth. He stated the yr 2026 shall be celebrated as India-France yr of innovation.
He additionally stated Modi and Macron touched upon the continued cooperation between the 2 international locations within the Indian Ocean Area and the Indo-Pacific.
Macron, who was the chief visitor on the Republic Day celebrations on the Kartavya Path on Friday, was accompanied by a delegation of senior ministers, officers and high executives of main French defence majors together with Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury. He started his two-day go to to India from Jaipur.
The overseas secretary described the world of small modular reactors (SMRs) as a comparatively new area area when it comes to dialogue between the 2 international locations.
“Expertise wants to return collectively, viability wants to return collectively and its positioning within the total power combine wants to return collectively. There was a really constructive, ahead leaning ongoing dialog between the 2 international locations (on it),” he stated.
An MoU was inked by New House India Restricted (NSIL) and French area company Arianespace for cooperation in satellite tv for pc launches.
Kwatra stated the French facet has at all times been forthcoming in supporting India’s candidacy for the membership of the Worldwide Power Company.
He additionally stated that following up on a call taken throughout Modi’s go to to Paris in July final yr, the Indian consulate within the southern French metropolis Marseille and the French bureau in Hyderabad are actually absolutely able to be operational.
The defence and strategic ties between India and France have been on an upswing in the previous couple of years.
The 2 strategic companions additionally expressed dedication to cooperate within the co-development and co-production of superior defence applied sciences, together with for the good thing about third international locations.
The 2 sides are additionally increasing cooperation within the maritime area together with within the Indian Ocean Area.
(With Company Inputs)
