Mukherjee said more than 700 French enterprises have

invested in India and Indian companies are increasingly exploring opportunities in France. "Our bilateral trade has grown to almost USD nine billion in 2011-12 and France is today the 9th largest foreign investor in India. Our joint initiatives which include technology transfer and collaborative development in the strategic areas of space, defense production and civil nuclear co-operation have been particularly successful," he was quoted as saying by the Rashtrapati Bhavan in a release here. Welcoming the French President on his first state visit here, Mukherjee also appreciated France's support to India's rightful claim to a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council. "Both the countries have long nurtured a close and substantive relationship based on shared principles and values and convergences on regional and global issues of common concern," the President said, expressing hope for greater bilateral cooperation between the two nations.