NEW DELHI, January 25, 2008. France today offered unequivocal support to India is its quest for sustainable development through the use of clean fuels such as nuclear energy, with the visiting French President, Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy, declaring his country’s resolve to back the development of civilian nuclear energy in India.

Addressing the India-France Economic Conference: Synergies for the Future, organized by FICCI & CII, Mr. Sarkozy said: “We cannot ask India to address the issues of environment and not to allow it to develop clean fuels such as nuclear energy,” adding, that India could tap the nuclear energy technology developed by France, “which was better than others.”

The French President said, his country wanted India to be a strategic partner. “The world needs India to solve the major problems faced by mankind, the foremost being cleansing the environment”. France of the 20th century wanted India to be in the G-20 grouping, he said, adding, “I don’t see how we can afford to wait for this to happen. Wait for what, the reform of the UN Security Council?” he asked and added that “France was committed to increasing the permanent seats in the Security Council with India as a prominent member.”

He said the next G-8 Summit in Tokyo should be immediately turned into G-13 with India as a member. “It is senseless not to invite India and the sooner this is done the better it would be for the world.”

Mr. Kamal Nath, Minister of Commerce and Industry said, France and India ties today need to rest on three pillars: academic exchanges, scientific and technical cooperation in high technology, and industrial cooperation through the development of direct investment. He said, France needs to look at India’s small and medium sector much more closely. France’s small and medium sized firms form the backbone of the French economy; these units will find a similar business culture prevailing here in India. Most Indian SME firms are family- owned and family-run enterprises.

Mr. Habil Khorakiwala, President, FICCI said France’s tremendous capabilities in urban infrastructure remain to be used, in a rapidly urbanizing India. Its technological capabilities in high speed rail travel needs to find a place in one of the world’s largest rail networks, that of India. And nuclear power must become a bedrock of our future relations, he said. The deepening of our economic relations must also be defined by our partnership in the domain of small and medium enterprises, which number in millions in our two great nations, he said.

Mr. Sunil Kant Munjal, Past President, CII, France could enhance its competitiveness by relaxing its visa rules for the Indian skilled workforce. France and India, he said, could cooperate in developing India’s infrastructure – roads, railways, ports and in cutting edge technologies, telecom, defence, and civil aviation.

Ms. Laurence Parisot, President of the MEDEF and leader of the French business delegation comprising 100 CEOs of major French companies said India’s growth opens up vast opportunities for French businesses. He urged Indian businesses to look seriously at France which was more business friendly that perceived by many around the world.

MEDIA DIVISION