"There cannot be any progress for a large country like

India where there is not a Europe that knows itself stability, confidence and growth," Hollande said and asked India and France to relentlessly pursue the goals set by leaders like Gandhi to ensure that development reaches every citizen. Talking about his interaction with business heads, the French President said Indians want their rate of growth may exceed eight, nine and 10 per cent and "I dreamt." "Today, the fear is that it can go down to 5 per cent, which would be a great performance for France but a risk to the Indian economy because your needs related to the increase in population, its need for access to the consumer market, durable goods require strong growth," he said. "We, in France we are fighting for that growth is not below zero, we will succeed," he said, evoking laughter among the audience. The French President said both have a common goal to raise their growth and so "our interests are common". Though commercial exchanges between India and Europe have tripled in the past few years, Hollande said, more needs to be done.