French Foreign Minister plans India visit for talks

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna will be visiting India from September 14-15 on her first official trip to India and her first bilateral visit in Asia.

During her stay in New Delhi, Colonna will hold talks with Minister S Jaishankar on September 14, on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest, read the Ministry of External Affairs press release. As part of the visit, Colonna will travel to Mumbai for engagements with industry leaders and site visits on September 15.

India and France have a longstanding strategic partnership, strengthened by regular high-level consultations and growing convergences in various areas.

The French Foreign Minister's visit will pave the way for further strengthening the partnership across trade, defence, climate, migration and mobility, education and health sectors, added the release.

The two countries have a burgeoning economic relationship. French businesses and industry have forged linkages with the Indian economy and contribute significantly to our goal to become an Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Although India has a trade surplus, India-France bilateral trade remains far below potential. In the period April 2018-March 2019, India-France bilateral trade stood at 11.59 billion Euro, India's exports to France were valued at 6.23 billion Euro meanwhile, French exports to India stood at 5.35 billion Euro.

(ANI)