Pacts in the fields of defence, smart cities, infrastructure, energy including nuclear and renewable, besides strengthening economic partnerships through free trade agreements (FTAs) will be priority for Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his three-nation visit beginning on Thursday.
“Modi will work on furthering the proposed FTA with Canada that will widen access for Indian goods & services and is expected to sign pacts to in solar energy, smart cities, defence projects and some infrastructure projects with France and Germany,” a Government official told BusinessLine .
“In France, Modi is expected to sign some important pacts in the area of defence that might include ones involving purchase of fighter planes,” a senior BJP member said.
French Ambassador to India François Richier, in an interaction with the media on Tuesday, had confirmed that French companies including those in defence were keen to participate in the ‘Make in India’ initiative, but did not elaborate on whether the deal for the proposed sale of 126 Rafale fighter planes by French company Dassault will be sealed during the visit.
There are also expectations that the deal for setting up six advanced nuclear reactors, between French nuclear company Areva and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL), in Jaitapur, could be finalised during the visit. “Negotiations between Areva and NPCIL are almost complete. Something could be expected,” the BJP member said.
Pacts on clean energy, space and railways are also on the agenda.
Apart from discussing the proposed FTA with his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper, Modi will also have talks on gas pipeline infrastructure, uranium supply, unconventional energy and banking, pensions & finance.
Hannover fair In Germany, Modi will inaugurate the Hannover Messe fair with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, where India is the partner country.
“India and Germany will sign two expressions of interest, one related to roof-top solar energy generation and the other related to smart cities, during the visit,” German Ambassador to India Michael Steiner told the media on Wednesday.
The Indian Prime Minister will begin his tour in France on Thursday, go to neighbouring Germany on Sunday and then fly to Canada next Tuesday for the final leg of his trip.
In all three countries, he will meet top CEOs across sectors to discuss their concerns related to the Indian market and convince them to invest more in the country. The Prime Minister’s pet theme, ‘Make in India’, will be the highlight of all the meetings, the official said.