Bastille Day 2023 | Ambassador Lenain’s press interactions
Ahead of the France visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as guest of honour for Bastille Day celebrations, here are Ambassador Lenain’s press interactions.
New Delhi, June-July 2023
Next stage in strategic ties to be unveiled during PM Modi’s France visit, says envoy
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s France visit on July 13-14 will usher in a roadmap for deepening the strategic partnership for the coming years with Paris ready to work with New Delhi to open new chapters of cooperation, reinforce the already outstanding political coordination, jointly tackle global issues, co-develop the technologies of the future including figther aircraft engines and strengthen both countries’ strategic autonomy.
The upcoming visit by the India Prime Minister has huge symbolic significance as he will be the guest of honour at the July 14 Bastille Day celebrations that would involve Indian troops in marching contingent and Indian Rafale jets in fly past, French Ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenain told ET in a freewheeling conversation ahead of the PM’s trip to one of India’s closest strategic partners.
Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron share a close chemistry and the visit marks 25 years of strategic partnership. The two leaders are expected to usher in a roadmap for strategic partnership for the coming years, Lenain informed. “France-India strategic partnership is grounded on outstanding mutual trust. We have a decades-old cooperation in strategic sectors such as defence and space, we have great people to people and cultural exchanges, our companies are helping the ecological transition in India and the goal now is to open new chapters in sectors of the future, for example alternative sources of energy such as hydrogen ,” Lenain indicated.
The Ambassador said that the level of defence technology transfer on offer by French companies is unparalleled. " French companies are champions of Atmanirbhar Bharat. No other country or companies are willing to go as far in sharing their best technology. We want to be partners with India to co-develop next generation equipment," he said.
The Ambassador said that French firm SAFRAN is in talks with India to co-develop the next generation fighter jet engine.
"We are prepared to think and develop together the equipments of the future that will be best suited to Indian requirements. Not just the AMCA, but also new engines for the Indian Multi Role Helicopter (IMRH) for example," he said, adding that in the near future, India and France will also jointly export weapon systems to the world.
The Ambassador also said that Naval Group (NG) is very keen to a continued partnership with India to meet submarine requirements of the Navy. Noting that the sixth Scorpene class submarine will be commissioned in the coming months, the official said that future engagement will depend on Indian requirements.
On Rafale fighter jets, he said that the aircraft have proved their worth for the Indian Air Force. He said that Rafales for the Navy would give India an advantage as they would have synergies when it comes to training, maintenance and repair as these systems have already been put in place.
When asked about the growing partnership in the Indian Ocean Region, the envoy stated France shares the same vision as India as a strong supporter of Freedom of Navigation, rule of law and law of the sea. “From joint patrolling to information sharing and joint sustainable development projects, we are working shoulder to shoulder with India in the Indian Ocean Region where France has territories and assets.”
People-to-people ties are developing strongly. Our partnership is a partnership of hearts. “Indian students are very welcome in France. They are a wonderful addition to our universities. More and more of them are attracted by the top academic level and the relatively moderate tuition fees. Right now 600.000 students in India are studying French as foreign language but for those who don’t know French, many curriculums in France can be followed entirely in English. France is not only offering scholarships to Indian students but also a provision of 1 + 1 year stay in France after their education is over to get a first professional experience. And we are now looking at providing long term visas for Indian students at the end of their study in France,” Lenain informed.