Chennai (PTI): France will take steps to double bilateral trade with India, from six billion Euros to 12 billion Euros in the next five years, Ambassador of France Jerome Bonnafont said on Friday.

"Steps will be taken to increase bilateral trade between the two countries to around 12 billion Euros in the next five years," Bonnafont told reporters at a function, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry here.

Lauding India's economic growth over the last few years, he said "France has got a lot to offer to India and has got a lot to take from India".

He said France will also take steps to increase the number of Indian students opting to study in that country, which was meagre compared to students opting to study at Germany.

"Last year about 1,200 students enrolled at various universities in France and we hope to treble the figure in the next three years," he said

A "personal link" was necessary to process applications of French visas faster for companies planning to send their employees on business visits to their country, he added.