India-France Cooperation in High-End Technology Sectors
India and France have committed to enhancing cooperation in high-end technology sectors during Foreign Office Consultations held in Paris.
Key Discussions and Agreements
- A delegation engaged with French officials to discuss bilateral cooperation and long-pending civil nuclear issues.
- This was done ahead of Prime Minister visit to Paris for the Summit for Action on Artificial Intelligence, to be co-chaired by India.
- A Special Task Force on Civil Nuclear Energy, established during French President's visit to India, was convened to address unresolved issues, particularly concerning the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project.
Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project
- Despite a revised offer by French energy company in 2022, issues such as project cost, time overruns, and India's civil liability law remain unresolved.
- The civil nuclear agreement between India and France dates back to 2008, with the first MoU for the 990-MW Jaitapur plant signed in 2009.
Areas of Bilateral Cooperation
- Discussions covered cooperation in defense, civil nuclear energy, space, cyber and digital technologies, and artificial intelligence.
- Both countries aim to expand their partnership, especially in high-end technology sectors.
Geopolitical Issues
- The consultations also included discussions on geopolitical issues such as the situations in West Asia and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
