Edited by Deepali Verma
An agreement has been signed between Tata and Airbus to make helicopters together. The two companies inked this deal to establish an assembly line for helicopters in Bharat amid French President Emmanuel Macron’s Republic Day visit to the country.
Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra further informed that the two countries have reached an agreement on a defence-industrial roadmap as well as on defence space partnership.
There already exist multiple agreements between Airbus and Tata. Recently, Tata Advanced Systems announced an agreement to both manufacture and supply components to Airbus for commercial jets, including the A320 and the A350. The Indian company will also assemble the Airbus C295 military transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force.
President Macron, in company of a delegation, including the Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury, Safran SA CEO Olivier Andries, and the heads of electricity utility EDF SA and Dassault Aviation SA, landed in Jaipur on January 25.
France and Bharat’s relationship has been steadily strengthening, with a 25-year plan that aims at deepening cooperation in defence, nuclear energy, and space, said the report. Modi attended the Bastille Day celebrations in France last year, where he unveiled the plans to acquire three additional submarines from France’s Naval Group and 26 marine Rafale fighter jets from Dassault Aviation SA.
Initiatives Announced for Students
Macron took to X to announce France’s plans to welcome 30,000 Bharatiya students to the country. He is optimistic that the country will open fresh pathways for students and facilitate visa processes for Bharatiya citizens who have once studied in the country.
Stating his goal of welcoming 30,000 Bharatiya students in France in 2030, Macron labelled it to be a “very ambitious target”, adding that he is “determined to make it happen”. Additionally, he outlined how the goal will be met.
“We are launching pathways to learn French in public schools under the initiative “French for All, French for a Better Future”. We are currently building a network of Alliances françaises, with new centres to learn French. Similarly, we are creating international classes that will allow students, who do not necessarily speak French, to join our universities. Lastly, we will facilitate the visa process for any former Bharatiya students who have studied in France,” the statement read.
Macron listed out the benefits of students choosing France. “Coming to France means seeking excellence. We have 35 universities in the QS ranking and nearly 15 in the Times higher education ranking. Bharat and France have so much to do together, both in present and in the future. We will achieve this with our young crowd, in exchange and cooperation, in trust and friendship!” he wrote.
