MEA dubs PM Modi's visit to France as 'extremely successful'

The Ministry of External Affairs has described Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France as extremely successful and said that it met all the goals that were set.

"I would say the visit was extremely successful. It met all the key goals that were targeted and we hope this will enhance our ties with France and take them to the next level," MEA official spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin told ANI.

Akbaruddin said Prime Minister Modi's visit has yielded results on a wide variety of issues including defence understandings and 'Make In India'.

"On the nuclear front, India and France have agreed to transfer of technology from a French company to an Indian company which will enable the Indian company to have access to technology that has so far been denied to Indian companies. It will enable Indian companies now to strengthen the capabilities in manufacturing," he added.

Akbaruddin said that both sides have agreed to pursue French assistance for Prime Minister Modi's project on smart cities.

"There have also been discussions on how can we take cooperation in railways ahead. On the people to people front, there is an understanding and an agreement that students who are a key constituency in promoting Indo-French ties will benefit after their research studies in France as well as in India, both the governments will facilitate their stay for periods where they can improve their skill sets and enhance their opportunities for improving cooperation between France and India," Akbaruddin said.

"France has indicated to India that they will be willing to process Indian request for visas within 48 hours. But that's not all. This was at the government to government level. But, the Prime Minister always is an exponent of what we term as multi-layered diplomacy. So, while at the government level, we have had many successful outcomes," he added.

Akbaruddin further said that Prime Minister Modi's interaction with the business leaders was productive.

"Today the Prime Minister was in Toulouse to visit Airbus which has indicated that they intend in the next five years to increase their sourcing from India by 500 percent. Currently, it is in the vicinity of 400 million dollars, by 2020 they indicated that this will be ramped up to two billion dollars as part of their contribution and their involvement with Prime Minister's 'Make in India' programme," he said.

Akbaruddin said that Prime Minister Modi urged the Indian community to continue their links with vibrant India.

"Prime Minister's visit always has a public diplomacy element and Prime Minister has just met the Indian community and addressed them and has urged them that they need to continue their links with India because India is now a renewed India, a vibrant India," he said.