Emmanuel Macron, President of France, paid a State Visit to India as the Chief Guest for the 75th Republic Day of India at the invitation of Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India.
- His two-day visit from 25th to 26th January 2024 marks his 2nd state visit to India. He arrived in Jaipur, Rajasthan on 25th January 2024.
- This is also the 6th visit by a French leader as Guest of honour for India’s Republic Day.
Note: Previously, President Macron has been in India on a State Visit in March 2018 and on an official visit in September 2023 for the Delhi G20(Group of 20) Summit.
Key Highlights:
i.During President Macron’s visit, India and France signed agreements in various sectors like defence, space exploration, science and technology, health and many more.
ii.India and France adopted the Roadmap for Defence Industrial Partnership for co-design and co-development of military hardware and space cooperation.
iii.India and France have agreed to intensify their cooperation in the Southwest Indian Ocean.
French delegation:
President Macron was accompanied by a ministerial delegation comprising Stéphane Sejourné (Europe and Foreign Affairs), Sébastien Lecornu (Armed Forces), and Rachida Dati (Culture).
Highlights of President Macron’s Visit to Jaipur Rajasthan:
Macron visited Sheesh Mahal and Deewan-e-Aam in Amber fort and Jantar Mantar, one of the oldest astronomical observatories featuring the world’s largest stone sundial.
Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron held a mega roadshow in Jaipur from Jantar Mantar to Hawa Mahal.
PM Modi gifted a replica of the new Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh(UP) to French President Macron.
PM Modi and France President Macron discussed issues related to defence, space, education, health, mobility and economic cooperation during the bilateral meeting held in Jaipur, Rajasthan. They also discussed Israel-Gaza conflict and Red sea crisis.
Roadmap for Defence Industrial Partnership:
On 25th January 2024, PM Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron adopted the Roadmap for Defence Industrial Partnership for collaboration in co-design, co-development and co-production of military hardware and space cooperation.
i.The roadmap will also enable cooperation in the field of robotics, autonomous vehicles and cyber defence.
ii.This will also cover both air and space technologies, and maritime technology, including underwater domain awareness.
Airbus & TASL signed MoU to set up 1st private FAL for Helicopter
TATA Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Sons, and Airbus Helicopters, the helicopter manufacturing division of Airbus, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set up a final assembly line (FAL) for H125 helicopters in India with a significant indigenous and localisation component.
- This will become India’s 1st FAL for helicopters. This also marks the first time instance of the private sector setting up a helicopter manufacturing facility in India.
Key Points:
i.Airbus Helicopters will produce H125 helicopters in India for both domestic and international markets. This will give boost to “Make in India” initiative promoting self-reliance in the manufacturing sector.
ii.FAL is expected to commence operation in 2026.
Benefit:
i.H125 helicopter will be used in various fields: disaster management, emergency medical services, law enforcement and tourism.
ii.It will play important role in centre’s government regional connectivity scheme-Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik(UDAN) to provide connectivity to remote areas.
iii.This alliance will bolsters aerospace industry in India.
Note: FAL is Airbus 2nd manufacturing facility in India after C95 military aircraft facility in Vadodara, Gujarat.
MoUs signed during Macron’s visit:
i.The Ministry of Defence, Government of India and the Ministry for the Armed Forces, French Republic signed a Letter of Intent on Defence Space Partnership.
ii.NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and France’s Arianespace S.A.S. signed MoU in the space sector.
- This aims to leverage the strengths of both companies to address the growing demand for commercial satellite launch services.
iii.Department of Science and Technology(DST), under the Ministry of Science and Technology, signed a framework cooperation agreement with Institut national de recherche pour L’Agriculture, L’Alimentation Et L’Environnement (INRAE), France.
iv.Framework Arrangement on cooperation concerning funding of research projects between DST and Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR), French Republic was also signed during his visit.
v.Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and the Ministry of Labour, Health and Solidarity of the French Republic signed a Declaration of Intent on Cooperation in the Field of Health and Medicine
vi.India’s Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and France’s Ministry of Public Sector Transformation and the Civil Service, signed a Letter of Intent on Public Administration and Administrative Reforms
vii.India and France also renewed the agreement between the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (India) and the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion (France) on cooperation in the field of Sustainable Urban Development.
Key Announcements:
i.Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary of India, announced that 2026 will be celebrated as the “India-France Year of Innovation”.
ii.India and France have announced to set up a solar academy in Senegal under the STAR-C programme of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
iii.Under the proposed Safran-India Shakti jet engine deal, France-based Safran company, the world’s 2nd largest aircraft equipment manufacturer, will transfer 100% of technology across the design, development, certification, and production phases of the project.
iv.Introduction of the Young Professional Scheme under the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement, which enables exchange individuals aged 18- 35 years and the extension of visa validity to 5 years for Schengen visas for Indian Students studying master’s degrees in France.
v..Operationalisation of Unified Payment Interface (UPI) at Eiffel Tower, Paris, France.
vi.Setting up of India’s Consulate in Marseille and French Bureau de France in Hyderabad.
v.Ashif Saraf, Vice President and Country Director, Thales India announced the establishment maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) center for avionics and in-flight entertainment systems in New Delhi, Delhi to provide world-class services to its airline.
India and France agreed to intensify cooperation in Southwest Indian Ocean region
India and France committed to strengthen cooperation in the southwest Indian Ocean, building on joint surveillance missions conducted from the French territory of La Reunion in 2020 and 2022.
The joint statement was released following France President Emmanuel Macron’s visit for Republic Day in India.
Key Points:
i.The joint statement termed the defence and security partnership as basic pillars of the India-France partnership in the Indo-Pacific. It also includes various range of bilateral, multinational, regional and institutional initiatives in the Indian Ocean region.
ii.India and France committed to establishing trilateral cooperation with Australia and the United Arab Emirates(UAE).
iii.Both countries acknowledged the launch of the India-Middle East –Europe Corridor (IMEC) as it holds strategic importance in increasing trade and energy flow between India, the Middle East and Europe.
iv.France extends support to India’s permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
About France:
President– Emmanuel Macron
Prime Minister– Gabriel Attal
Capital– Paris
Currency– Euro
