A 11 member high powered business team from Confederation of Indian Industry led by Sunil Bharti Mittal, President, met the President of the French Republic, Nicolas Sarkozy on 22nd January 2008 at the Elysee Palace in Paris.
President Sarkozy referred to India as the "Future of the World". He said it is a great nation of the 21st Century and like all great nations it will have duties and responsibilities to render to world society. The President highlighted his admiration for India's achievement and said France too was a great nation.
Mittal and the business delegation discussed with him issues of investment in France and work permits. They acknowledged the good understanding in politics and strategic thinking but said that trade and investment between France and India needed improvement. They also highlighted the opportunities in infrastructure, defence equipments especially offset and healthcare, which can be fulfilled by creating a pool of researchers and academicians. The delegates discussed reduction of drug prices by support to generic drug industry.
The team also discussed the opportunities in the auto industry in India and the need for France to make an iconic investment in India. The business delegation acknowledged that a new chapter in Indo-French relations was expected with President Sarkozy at the helm in France. There were discussions on building synergies between SMEs.
In echoing his view of the changing global economic and political order, President Sarkozy was emphatic about India`s role and responsibilities at the high table of global leadership.
Nicolas Sarkozy, President, Republic of France with Sunil Bharti Mittal, President, CII in Paris
