From Ajay Kaul
Paris

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met top French business leaders with an aim of bringing French investment and technologies to India particularly in infrastructure and defence sectors.

Modi, who is on a four-day visit to France, was accorded a ceremonial welcome after his arrival here at the Les Invalides, the seventh century courtyard.

After the ceremony, Modi attended two back-to-back meetings with French CEOs whose business are mainly focused on these two sectors.

India is keen to invite French investments and technology in infrastructure and defence through participation in ‘Make in India’ programme initiated by Modi.

India expects “movement” on a proposal for setting up French nuclear reactors in Jaitapur in Maharashtra as well as Rafale fighter deal, both of which are pending for long.

These issues, along with trade, will be high on the agenda of substantive discussions between Indian Prime Minister Modi and French President Francois Hollande later on Friday.

The Jaitapur project, where French company Areva is to set up six nuclear reactors with total power generation capacity of about 10,000 MW, is stuck for long because of differences over the cost of electricity to be generated.

Similarly, the deal to supply 126 Rafale fighter planes is also deadlocked because of differences over price.

Modi will also have ‘Naav pe Charcha’ (chat on boat) with Hollande this evening when they go for a cruise on Seine river which passes through Paris.

PTI