No role in selecting Indian partners for Rafale: France

Spokesperson of France's Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs said that the French government had no role to play in choosing partner companies in India for the purpose of offsets contracts in the Rafale deal.

Furthermore, the spokesperson, via a statement issued on Friday, said the companies chosen by Dassault Aviation for the offsets had to be approved by the Indian Government.

"The French government is in no manner involved in the choice of Indian industrial partners who have been, are being, or will be selected by French companies. In accordance with India's acquisition procedure, French companies have the full freedom to choose the Indian partner companies that they consider to be the most relevant, then present for the Indian government's approval the offsets projects that they wish to execute in India with these local partners so as to fulfil their obligations in this regard," the statement said.

"As it happens, agreements have already been signed by French companies with many Indian firms, both public and private, under the framework of Indian laws," it added.

The spokesperson also confirmed that the intergovernmental agreement signed in September 2016 between the French and Indian governments for supplying 36 Rafale aircraft to India concerned the obligations of the French government solely with regards to ensuring the delivery and quality of this equipment.

Earlier, former French president François Hollande in an interview to a media house said that Dassault Aviation was given no choice but to partner with Anil Ambani-led Reliance Defence for the offsets clause in the Rafale fighter jet deal.

However, Dassault Aviation, in a statement, said that Reliance Group was chosen by the company itself in compliance with the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2016 regulations and the Indian government's Make in India policy.