Relations at a Glance

India and France – Relations at a Glance

Establishment of Relations 1947
Brief History  India and France have traditionally close and friendly relations. In 1998, the two countries entered into Strategic Partnership which is emblematic of their convergence of views on a range of international issues apart from a close and growing bilateral relationship. The areas of defence cooperation, space cooperation and civil nuclear cooperation constitute the three principal pillars of our Strategic Partnership. Apart from these traditional fields of cooperation, India and France are increasingly engaged in new areas of cooperation like climate change, sustainable growth and development, the International Solar Alliance etc.
Key Visits to France (President, VP, PM) Prime Minister’s Visits:

2nd-3rd June 2017

30th Nov – 1st Dec 2015

9th -12th April 2015

Key Visits to India President’s Visits:

9th – 12th March 2018

24th to 26th January 2016

Main Treaties and Agreements and Dialogues    Total Number since 2014 – 14
MOUs    Total Number since 2014 – 9
Bilateral Trade – Last Three years Total Trade:

1.2017-18: 11,424.43 USD Million

India Trade Deficit: -1,623.89 USD Million

2.2016-17: 10,957.82 USD Million

India Trade Deficit: -457.72 USD Million

3.2015-16: 8,363.71 USD Million

India Trade Surplus: 903.09 USD Million

Major Exports (2017-18):

1.    Mineral Fuels

2.    Aircraft, Spacecraft and parts thereof

3.   Articles of Apparel, Clothing

4.     Nuclear Reactors, Boilers etc.

5.   Electrical Equipment

Major Imports (2017-18):

1.     Aircraft, Spacecraft and parts thereof

2.    Nuclear Reactors, Boilers etc.

3.     Electrical Machinery and Equipment

4.     Optical and Photographic Equipment

5.   Organic Chemicals

Key Officials Minister of External Affairs India – Dr. Subrahmanyam JaishankarMinister of State for External Affairs India –Shri V. Muraleedharan

Foreign Secretary India – Vijay Keshav Gokhale

Cabinet Minister of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs–Jean-Yves Le Drian

Ambassador– India to France -Vijay Mohan Kwatra

Ambassador – France to India – Alexandre Ziegler

[RUNNING UPDATE – LAST UPDATED ON 20 NOVEMBER TO INCLUDE YEARS 2018-2014 ONLY]

SOURCES:

  1. Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
  2. Ministry of Commerce, Government of India.