France announces USD 10 billion investment in India

Sources also indicated that even in the run-up to French President Fran-cois Hollande’s visit, the Indian government had decided that it was not going to be pushed into a corner on time lines due to the presidential visit.

India has signed a deal with France to purchase 36 Rafale fighter jets, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

France has been pushing hard for years to wrap up one of the world’s biggest defense deals.

“By reducing the Rafale order, Prime Minister Modi is hoping to push the locally-developed but long-awaited light combat aircraft, Tejas, under the “Make in India” initiative”, the analyst concluded.

French President, Francois Hollande who is on a three-day visit to India as the chief guest for 2016 Republic Day Parade was accorded a ceremonial Reception at Rashtrapati Bhawan on Monday.

Chandigarh, Puducherry and Nagpurwill be developed as “Smart Cities” with the help of France which on January 25 affirmed its commitment to India’s ambitious plans for clean and sustainable development.

“Dassault Aviation is very pleased with this progress, and is actively supporting French authorities in their efforts to finalize a complete agreement within the next four weeks”, the company said in a statement from Saint Cloud in France. “Both of us have also agreed to sort out the financial aspect of the deal quickly”, said Modi.

Be proactive – Use the “Flag as Inappropriate” link at the upper right corner of each comment to let us know of abusive posts. “So, you see, we have seen the Indian parade before the Chinese one”, said 27 year old Shenquan, a financial consultant.

The two countries also made a decision to bolster cooperation against terrorism, and told Pakistan to bring to justice those responsible for terror strikes in Gurdaspur and Pathankot and the November 2008 terror attack in Mumbai and ensure that such attacks do not recur.

Amidst security threats in country in the wake of Pathankot airbase attack, Hollande visited India.

After the talks Modi and President Hollande ditched the usual cavalcades and rode on the Delhi metro to Gurgaon where they both jointly laid the foundation of the interim secretariat of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

“From nuclear cooperation to railway locomotives, we are sowing the seeds of an ever-tightening web of cooperation between our two countries, ” Modi said.

A contingent of French infantry in India for joint military exercises led the march down the capital’s central Rajpath avenue, the first time foreign forces have ever taken part in the parade.