RAJYA SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 257
TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2013

TRADE COOPERATION BETWEEN INDIA AND FRANCE

*257. DR. PRADEEP KUMAR BALMUCHU:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether French President has recently visited India;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the need for cooperation between the two countries has been felt by the French President in strengthening the long term economic partnership;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the steps being taken by Government to increase cooperation between the two countries for infrastructural development and trade?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI SALMAN KURSHID)

(a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 257 REGARDING "TRADE COOPERATION BETWEEN INDIA AND FRANCE" FOR ANSWER ON 14.03.2013

(a) to (e) The President of the French Republic, H.E. Francois Hollande paid a state visit to India on 14-15 February 2013, at the invitation of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. He was accompanied by a high-level delegation including several key Ministers of his Cabinet, senior officials, business-persons and media.

During discussions with the Prime Minister, both leaders emphasized the importance of the bilateral economic engagement and furthering bilateral co-operation in the area of trade and investment.

Discussions are regularly held with France under the India-France Joint Committee for Economic and Technical Cooperation, the last meeting of which was held on 23-25 June, 2010, in Paris to promote bilateral trade including the infrastructural development.

A Joint Statement was issued during the visit. Among the agreements reached following the discussions were a Joint Statement to follow-up and strengthen co-operation in the railway sector and an MoU between the Indian Ministry of Railways and SNCF of France.