The Hindu : National : France favours permanent seat for India

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Thursday, Oct 04, 2007
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France favours permanent seat for India

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: French Ambassador to India Jerome Bonnafont has said that his country wants to see India as a global player in its true sense — through a permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council and as a full-fledged player in G-8 nations. “We support India’s cause in this.”

Speaking at the inauguration of Schneider Electric’s plant near here on Wednesday, Mr. Bonnafont said India’s economic and technological contribution to the world was significant.

The French wanted to be India’s strategic partner as they had many things in common such as democracy, culture, freedom and economy.

Mr. Bonnafont said the trade between the two countries was going to double in five years. Currently, it was $ 5 billion ($ 2.5 billion on each side).

He expected that it would grow to $ 10 billion by 2012-13.

The key areas where he saw potential for growth were aeronautics, aviation, nuclear power, space and nanotechnology.

Nuclear energy

The Ambassador said 80 per cent of electricity needs of France were met from nuclear energy. With its know-how on nuclear energy, France foresaw options for larger investments in the sector in India.

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