India & France: Spring Time
Channel: India Writes Connect
Date: 2015-04-09

India & France:  Spring Time
It’s spring time in Paris, and there is a new spring, bounce and vitality in India-France relations. Paris in April looks like the heaven on earth, and is the first stop in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s maiden trip to Europe and the continent’s powerful economy. When Prime Minister Modi sits down for talks with the French President for talks, there will be a lot on the table besides delicious gourmet food for which the French are famous. The menu will be appetising and varied – trade and investment, nuclear energy, science and technology, defence deals and space will vie for the leaders’ mind space as they map out an ambitious agenda to upscale India-France relations across the spectrum. 
The leaders of India and France have already forged a personal rapport; Mr Modi met the French president on the margins of the G20 summit in Brisbane in Australia, and conveyed his desire to scale up bilateral relations to new heights. 
Economic diplomacy will be high on agenda. Ahead of his three-nation trip to France, Germany and Canada, PM Modi has tweeted: “My France, Germany and Canada visit is centred around supporting India's economic agenda and creating jobs for our youth. Will discuss strengthening India-France economic co-operation and visit some high-tech industrial units outside Paris. Economic relations are on an upward trajectory, with bilateral trade exceeding $7 billion. India is looking for more French investments and seeking France’s support for Make in India campaign and the smart cities project.  
Civil aviation has emerged an important sector of cooperation, with PM Modi planning a visit to Toulouse – home to Airbus. 
Taking civil nuclear cooperation forward will be high on PM Modi’s agenda. France was the first country to sign a bilateral civil nuclear pact with India after the Nuclear Suppliers Group’s waiver in September 2008. France is in the process of finalising arrangements for setting up six atomic reactors in India.
The space partnership shows the sky is virtually the limit. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and its French counterpart CNES have been collaborating for decades on space technologies and jointly launching satellites.
Against the backdrop of new cross-cutting threats, India will be looking to diversify strategic partnership and deepen counter-terror cooperation. PM Modi promptly rang up the French president when a French satirical weekly was targeted by terrorists in Paris and reaffirmed India’s commitment to counter-terrorism cooperation.
Defence cooperation remains the bedrock of the growing strategic partnership. France is among the top suppliers of cutting-edge weapons systems to India. One can expect some discussions on fast-tracking the purchase of Rafale aircraft during the talks in Paris. 
Culturally, India and France connect and bond beautifully. Paris remains the dream destination for Indian tourists, and the India Story has a captive audience in France. Bollywood rocks in France, and the French cinema has a devoted following in India. This cultural alchemy glowed in Namaste France and Bonjour India festivals held in the last few years. Paris in April looks a perfect place and time to flower new dreams and celebrate this high moment in India-France relations.