Strengthening Ties: French Trade Minister’s Three-Day Visit to India

 

New Delhi, Nov 26 (PTI) – Sophie Primas, France's Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad, will embark on a three-day visit to India from November 27 to 29, 2024. The visit aims to deepen economic cooperation, foster innovation, and promote bilateral investment between the two nations.

Primas is set to meet Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi on the first day of her trip. Discussions will center on enhancing the ease of doing business and boosting investment flows. The goal is not only to increase French investments in India but also to attract more Indian foreign direct investment (FDI) to France, a leading European FDI destination.

Highlighting the visit’s importance, Primas and Goyal will jointly open the concluding session of the France-India CEOs Forum. The forum will feature key industry leaders, including Paul Hermelin, Chairman of Capgemini, and Hari Bhartia, Co-Chairman of Jubilant Life Sciences Limited.

Later, Primas will address the 2024 Asia-Pacific Forum of Foreign Trade Advisers and present the Grand Prix VIE Asia-Pacific, an award recognizing exceptional young business professionals working abroad.

On November 28, Primas will travel to Chennai, Tamil Nadu, a hub for French business activity. She is scheduled to meet T.R.B. Rajaa, Tamil Nadu's Minister of Industry, Investment Promotion, and Commerce, to explore opportunities for expanding economic ties in the region.

Primas will also visit Saint-Gobain's R&D center at the IIT Madras Research Park, which serves as a nexus for innovation by linking academia, industry, and startups. The center exemplifies the collaborative potential of Indo-French partnerships in sustainable construction and advanced materials.

On the final day of her trip, November 29, Primas will inaugurate a new French international school in Chennai. The bilingual institution is designed to bring the excellence of France’s education system to the city.

Her itinerary also includes a visit to Puducherry, where she will pay tribute at the French War Memorial and engage with students, educators, and alumni at the Lycée Français International de Pondichéry.

This visit underscores the dynamic and growing partnership between France and India, fostering collaboration in business, innovation, and cultural exchange.