The visit of French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius coincides with the launch of the PSLV-C23, a satellite launch vehicle, which will carry as its main payload the French earth observation satellite SPOT-7, due to lift off from the ISRO launch centre at Sriharikota on Monday. Besides SPOT-6 which the PSLV put into orbit in 2012, SPOT-7 is the second French satellite that the PSLV will put into orbit on Monday. These two are commercial launches.
This is the second French satellite to be put into orbit by an Indian vehicle, while two Indian satellites have been launched by the French Ariane-series vehicles in the past, as examples of the close cooperation between ISRO and French space agency Arianespace.During his meetings, Mr. Fabius is slated to discuss the conclusion of the SRSAM (short-range surface-to-air missile) ‘Maitri’ missile programmes to be co-developed by the DRDO and the MBDA, as well as nuclear cooperation over the Jaitapur reactors, and take forward the negotiations on India’s civil nuclear liability law.
Sources said, “The supplier’s liability law has opened a new set of parameters, and how it is implemented will determine future pricing,” indicating that the French government, like the Russian government, has resolved differences over the existence of India’s nuclear liability law.
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On Monday, Mr. Fabius will also make a pitch for more Indians to study at French colleges, an area where France lags far behind countries like the U.S., the U.K. and Russia, with only approximately 2,800 Indian students in France at present. Mr. Fabius will also address students at an event, where MoUs between Indian and French universities will be signed.