Context:
India and France have agreed to enhance their partnership in high-end technology sectors during the bilateral meeting to review the India-France Horizon 2047 Roadmap.
· High end technologies refer to complex and Industrial 4.0 technologies such as defence, civil nuclear energy, space, cyber and digital technologies, artificial intelligence (AI).
About India-France Horizon 2047 Roadmap:
The 'Horizon 2047' Roadmap is a strategic initiative that outlines India's long-term vision for the next two decades.
It focuses on strengthening global partnerships in three key areas: security and sovereignty, sustainability, and people-to-people connections, with the aim of making India a global leader by 2047.
The Horizon 2047 Roadmap was unveiled during a meeting between Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris in July 2023 with the aim of boosting bilateral ties in areas ranging from trade and investment to strategic cooperation.
About India and France relationship:
Diplomatic relations between India and France were established shortly after India gained independence in 1947, paving the way for bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors.
France is India's second-largest arms supplier, accounting for 33% of India's defense imports, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Key projects include the purchase of Rafale aircraft and the P-75 Scorpene submarine project.
· Rafale Aircraft Purchases: India has purchased Rafale jets, enhancing its air defense capabilities.
· P-75 Scorpene Project: This involves the construction of advanced Scorpene submarines for India’s naval forces.
· Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities: These will focus on advanced aviation propulsion (LEAP) and Rafale engine maintenance.
Key military exercises between India and France:
· Bilateral Exercises: Notable exercises include VARUNA (naval exercises) and FRINJEX-23 (joint military exercises).
· Multilateral Exercises: France participates in multilateral exercises such as La Perouse and ORION in collaboration with India and other international partners.
About India-France Indo-Pacific Roadmap
The India-France Indo-Pacific Roadmap, released in 2023, broadens bilateral cooperation from the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) to include the entire Indo-Pacific region. This aims to strengthen strategic partnerships and ensure stability and security in the region.
How do India and France collaborate in space?
France is a key supplier of components for India’s space program. The two countries have also agreed to collaborate on future launch vehicles and the TRISHNA Earth Observation mission, expanding their cooperation in space exploration and technology.
About economic cooperation between India and France:
France is one of the largest investors in India, with an FDI inflow of $659.77 million for FY 2022-23. Notable economic projects include:
· Tata Group and Airbus collaborating on manufacturing civilian helicopters.
· CFM International securing an agreement with India's Akasa Air for the purchase of over 300 LEAP-1B engines.
Digital cooperation between India and France:
· Unified Payments Interface (UPI): France launched UPI at the Eiffel Tower, enabling secure and convenient transactions for Indian visitors and NRIs.
· Supercomputing: French companies have developed 14 supercomputers, including Param Siddhi, India’s fastest supercomputer at 4.6 petaflops per second.
Multilateral cooperation:
France has consistently supported India's bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and its positions on Kashmir and terrorism at international forums like the United Nations and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Additionally, France played a crucial role in India's accession to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), Wassenaar Arrangement (WA), and Australia Group (AG).
Challenges between India-France relations:
· Bilateral Trade: While trade is growing, it stood at US$15.8 billion in 2022, still underperforming compared to other global partnerships.
· Visa Restrictions: Increased visa restrictions have been a point of frustration for Indian correspondents in France.
· Nuclear Agreement Delay: The Jaitapur nuclear power project faces delays due to technical, financial, and civil nuclear liability issues.
· Strategic Autonomy Differences: India’s policy of non-alignment contrasts with France’s more pragmatic approach to balancing power in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly regarding China’s growing influence, presenting a challenge for aligning strategic objectives.
