India-France Relations

An elaborate dialogue architecture has evolved in the wake of these political initiatives and this provides a framework for regular, structured consultations between France and India on a variety of issues of mutual concern. Apart from the annual consultations between the two Foreign Ministries at the Foreign Secretary level, France and India have also instituted a high-level six-monthly Strategic Dialogue, a special biennial Joint Working Group on Terrorism, Indo-French High Level Committee on Defence and Indo-French Joint Committee on Economic & Technical Cooperation. Other than these numerous official fora of interaction, the ‘Indo-French Forum’ (which was launched in 1998, and last met in October 2005, in New Delhi) brings together representatives of the two countries from the fields of art, culture, science & technology, business and academia.

Important Bilateral Treaties and Agreements:

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The Agreement on Cultural, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, signed on 7th June 1966, provides for collaboration in the domain of Audiovisual and Cinema, Cultural and Artistic Exchanges, Heritage, Museology and Conservation, Books and Publications, under which the indo-French Cultural Exchange Program (CEP) are finalized, the latest of which was for the period 2004-2006. Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement between India and France was signed during the visit of the then Finance Minister in September 1997. There also exists an Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation between the two countries. The Indo-French Extradition Treaty between the two countries was signed in Paris in January 2003 and the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties on Criminal and Civil Matters (MLAT) have also been finalized. During President Chirac’s visit to India in February 2006, ten agreements and MoUs reflecting diverse areas of Indo-French engagement were signed. These include a Joint Declaration on the Development of Nuclear Energy for Peaceful Purposes, Agreement on Defence Cooperation, MoU on Tourism Cooperation, Statement of Intent on Cooperation between Ministry of Commerce & Industry of India and Ministry of Economy, Finance & Industry of France on Cooperation between Enterprises, Agreement between ANTRIX Corporation and EADS ASTRIUM to jointly build a satellite for EUTELSAT, MoU between IIM, Ahmedabad and ESSEC (Ecole Supérieure des Sciences Economiques et Commerciales) Business School, MoU between BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency) and ADEME (Agence de l’Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l’Energie), Agreement between ICCR and Sciences Po, Paris and Airbus purchase contract signed between Indian Airlines and Airbus Industrie. Separately, an Agreement was also signed by Kingfisher Airlines to purchase 15 ATR aircrafts.

Bilateral visits :

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At the President’s level, Shri K.R. Narayanan visited France in April 2000. At Vice-President’s level, there were visits by Shri Hidayatullah (1979 and 1984) and Shri R.Venkataraman (1986). At Prime Minister’s level, Smt. Indira Gandhi visited France in 1970 (death of President de Gaulle) and in 1981; Shri Rajiv Gandhi in 1985 (Festival of India) and again in July 1989 (bi-centenary celebrations); Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao in September 1992 and again in June 1995; and Shri A.B. Vajpayee from 29-30 September, 1998 and June 2003 for G8 Broader Dialogue in Evian and Shri Manmohan Singh from 11-13 September 2005. At EAM’s level, Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao (December 1975, May 1977, January 1983 and April 1984), Shri N.D. Tiwari (October 1986), Shri I.K. Gujral (March 1990), Shri Dinesh Singh (February 1994), Shri Pranab Mukherjee (April 1995) and Shri Jaswant Singh (May 1999 and September 2001) and Shri Natwar Singh (11-13 Oct. 2005) visited France. At HM’s level, Shri L.K. Advani visited France in 2000 and again in January 2003 as Deputy Prime Minister. From the French side at President’s level, President Giscard d’Estaing (January 1980), President Mitterand (November 1982 and for Festival of France in India in February 1989) and President Jacques Chirac (January 1998, Chief Guest at Republic Day celebrations) visited India (and from 19-21st February 2006). At Prime Minister’s level, there were visits by Prime Minister Jacques Chirac (January 1976), Prime Minister Michel Rocard (January 1990, for Festival of France in India) and Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin (February, 2003). At Foreign Minister’s level, Mr. Claude Cheysson (1981, 1982 and 1983); Mr. Jean Bernard Raymond (March 1987), Mr. Roland Dumas (February 1989 for Festival of France), Mr. Alain Juppé (April 1994), Mr. Hubert Vedrine (February 2000 and November 2001), Foreign Minister Mr. Dominique de Villepin (August 1-2, 2002 and February 12-13, 2004) visited India.

Commercial and Economic Relations:

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Since 1991, economic and commercial linkages have assumed increasing importance in India's bilateral relations with France. There is a perceptible rise in the Indo-French trade in last few years. Indo-French bilateral trade trebled during 1991-2005, amounting to US $ 2989.81 million in 2004-05. Indian exports to France growing four-fold from € 538.15 million to € 2104 million and Indian imports from France doubled from € 657 million to € 1736 million. Trade balance has remained in India’s favour since 1994; in 2005 it was € 266 million. Over the same period French investments (approved) in India which was negligible in 1991 (Rs 193.3 million) rose to € .64 billion by March 2005. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) approved from France from 1991 to March 2005 is of the order of US$ 1.73 billion out of which the actual inflow is of the order of US$ 760 million. The number of technical and financial collaborations approved with France is 860. France is the eighth largest foreign investor in the period August 1991 to date. The sectors of key French interest have been in fuel (Power & Oil Refinery) followed by chemicals, cement & gypsum products, glass and food processing industries. Major French companies such as Lafarge, Alstom, Alcatel, St. Gobain, Air Liquide, L’Oreal, Danone etc. are already operating in India. Key sectors of interest to France include power, hydrocarbons (petroleum and petroleum products), telecommunications, auto components, agro-industries, drugs and pharmaceuticals, environment, water resources management and waste management. Joint Working Groups have been holding regular meetings in the sectors of IT & Telecommunications, Energy, Mining, Posts, Roads & Urban Development and Agriculture & Food Processing under the aegis of the Indo-French Joint Committee on Economic & Technical Cooperation. The last meeting of the Joint Economic Commission was held in Paris on 31 May 2006.

S&T Cooperation :

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Cooperation in the field of Science & Technology comes within the purview of Indo- French Joint Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation (IFJCSTC). Along with the Indo-French Cultural Exchange Programme (IFCEP), the two agreements fall within the larger umbrella of the Indo-French Commission for Cooperation in the fields of Science, Education and Culture. The Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research (IFCPAR) was established in New Delhi in 1987 as a joint and equally funded project. It supports and finances joint research projects, bilateral workshops, seminars and exchange visits. An active programme of cooperation exists between the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). A cooperation agreement also exists between the CNRS and the Department of Biotechnology of the Government of India. The long-standing cooperation between ISRO and the French Space Agency CNES in the exploration and research into the peaceful uses of Outer Space is an outstanding example of scientific collaboration. The current focus in this area is on new initiatives for setting up joint laboratories and projects in emerging technologies like water sciences, medical research, climatology, nano-technology, bio-technology and information technology. Recent examples of fruitful interaction include the Third Joint Working Group between the Indian Council of Medical Research and the French Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Medicale.

Indian Chair for Indian Studies:

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(i) There is an Indian Chair in Collège de France.

(ii) The Government of India provides the services of Indian Professor of Sanskrit at the Université de la Sorbonne Nouvelle Paris III.

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(iii) During President Chirac’s visit to India in February 2006, an MoU has been signed for creating a Chair of Indian Economy at the Sciences Po, Paris.

In addition, there is an Institute of French Studies (IFP) in Pondicherry. There also exists an exchange programme between the MSH (Maison des Sciences de l’Homme) on the French side and the Indian Council for Social Sciences Research (ICSSR), UGC, Indian Council for Historical Research (ICHR), Indian Council for Philosophical Research (ICPR) on the Indian side. The French Government has set up a Centre for Human Sciences (CSH) in Delhi to promote studies in political sciences and international relations. During President Chirac’s visit to India in February 2006, the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad and ESSEC Business School Paris (École Supérieure des Sciences Économiques et Commerciales) signed a MoU for promoting exchanges between the two institutes.

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Cultural Troupes:

The ICCR sponsored cultural troupes under OCD programme to France performed at several occasions during the last few years. The details are available at the website of the Embassy of India in Paris: www.amb-inde.fr

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Student Exchange Programmes :

Government of India offers sixteen scholarships to French nationals wishing to specialize in Indian studies including fashion designing, management, political and social sciences, culture, and science and technology. The French side offers scholarships in the fields of French language, public administration, fine arts, mass communication, etc. Two or three trainees from the Indian Administration visit France every year to pursue long-term studies (duration ten and a half months) at the Ecole Nationale d’Administration (ENA). There also exists a provision for exchange of French/English Tutors between the two sides. Under a school exchange programme between Lycée Lavoisier, a Higher Secondary School in Paris and Sanskriti, New Delhi, 22 students from the Lycée Lavoisier visited India in December 2005 and 20 Sanskriti students visited France from 1-13 March 2006.

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Sister city relations with India:

With the aim of further reinforcing bilateral ties between the two countries, the State of Karnataka and the Rhône-Alps Region of France signed the Declaration of Intent for developing privileged relations of cooperation between the two regions during the visit to India of the French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, in January 2003,. Amongst the different objectives, the two sides have also agreed to the twinning of the city of Lyon and Bangalore.

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Important streets and Public Places named after Indian leaders

§ Avenue Mahatma Gandhi - 75016 Paris

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§ Rue Tagore - 75013 Paris

Visa requirement for officials:

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Diplomatic and official passport holders have to obtain from the French Embassy/ Consulate a long term visa bearing the endorsement “voir carte MAE PROTOCOL”, based on which the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs will issue a stay permit to the official for continuing his tenure in France. Issue of this visa requires one month’s time.

Types of visas issued by the French Embassy:

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The details and type of visas issued to students, business people and tourists are available on the Embassy of France Website http://www.france-in-india.org.

Air links with India:

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The airlines having direct / transit flights to India are Air India, Air France, Air Lanka, Lufthansa and British Airways.

Indian Banks:

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Bank of India

3, Rue Scribe

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75009 Paris

Tel: 00 33 1 42 66 50 04

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Fax: 00 33 1 42 66 50 06

Email:boi.paris@wanadoo.fr

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State Bank of India

12-14 Rond Point des Champs Elysees

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75008 Paris

Tel: 00 33 1 53 77 23 01

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Fax: 00 33 1 53 77 28 50

Email:sbifrance@aol.com

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Public Sector Organizations and Chambers of Commerce:

Air India

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5, Rue de Colonnes 75002 Paris

Tel: 00 33 1 55 35 40 00

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Fax: 00 33 1 55 35 40 20

Email:mb.lokur@airindia.fr

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Confederation of Indian Industry

6 Passages des Arts

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75014 Paris

Telefax: 00 33 1 40 47 54 81

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rmulye.ciionline.org@wanadoo.fr

Government of India Tourist Office

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13, Boulevard Haussman

75009 Paris

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Tel: 00 33 1 45 23 30 45

Fax: 00 33 1 45 23 33 45

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Email:Indtourparis@aoil.com

French Embassy in India:

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Embassy of France

2/50-E Shantipath

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Chanakyapuri

New Delhi – 110021

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Tel 011-6118790

Fax 011-6872305

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www. France-in-india.org