3rd edition of 'Bonjour India' more collaborative: Ziegler

The third edition of 'Bonjour India', a joint Indo-French festival, is more ambitious, collaborative and focussed on youth and innovation, the Ambassador of France to India, Alexandre Ziegler said here today.
"This four-month long Bonjour India, which got underway recently, is more ambitious, more collaborative and more focussed on youth and innovation," Ziegler told reporters this evening.
"From November 2017 to February 2018, Bonjour India will cover 100 projects and 300 events in 33 cities across 20 states and union territories. Of these, 30 events will be held in Mumbai and Maharashtra," the diplomat said.
"The third edition of 'Bonjour India' will focus on partnership, innovation and creativity, and is oriented towards the youth. It will shape the next decade of people-to-people contacts between the two countries," he said.

The festival will showcase Indo-French expertise in innovation, education, research, science and technology, art and culture and enable further collaborations by bringing the best of India and France together, he said.
"The events will showcase innovation, creativity and partnership," Ziegler said.

French Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural Affairs Bertrand de Hartingh said 'Bonjour India' will focus on "common threads that unite us, to take forward what we have inherited and build our future together".
The first edition of the festival was hosted in 2009 and the second one in 2013-14.
Ziegler said around 5000 Indian students now study in universities in France and the number is expected to double in the next couple of years. Similarly, there has been an increase in the number of Indian tourists to France, he added.

"In a few days, India observes the anniversary of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. India and France face security challenges," he said.