This e-book provides a glimpse of what France is all about.

1. 1
IGPE Assignment
Submitted by:
Bitasta Bhadra
PGCM4/1407
Universal Business School
Content
1.Introduction
2.History
3.Milestones of France
4.Demography and Culture
5.Economy
6.Industries and Companies
7.French Government
8.Geo-Political Significance of France
9.Indo-French Relations
10.News from France

2. 2
Ancient History
In 600 BC, Ionian Greeks from Phocaea founded the colony of Mas-
salia (present-day Marseille) on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea,
making it the oldest city of France. Long before any Roman settlements,
Greek navigators settled in what would become Provence.
The Phoceans founded important cities such as Massalia (Marseille) and-
Nikaia (Nice), bringing them in to conflict with the neighboring Celts and
Ligurians. Some Phocean great navigators, such as Pytheas, were born in
Marseille. The Celts themselves often fought with Aquitanians and Ger-
mans, and a Gaulish war band led by Brennus invaded Rome c. 393 or
388 BC following the Battle of the Alliae. The Gaulish tribal confederacies
Early Middle Age (481-987)
A foremost circumstance of the later 9th and the 10th century was the
inability of the western Frankish Carolingian kings to keep order. The
royal estates that had theretofore supported them, mostly in the north
and east, were depleted through grants to retainers uncompensated by
new acquisitions. Hindered by poor communications, the kings lost
touch with lesser counts and bishops, while the greater counts and
dukes strove to forge regional clienteles in fidelity to themselves. These
princes (as they were called) were not rebels. More often allied with the
king than not, they
exercised regalian
powers of justice,
command, and
constraint; it was
typically they who
undertook to de-
fend local settle-
ments and church-
es from the ravag-
es of Magyars in-
vading from the
east, of Muslims
on Mediterranean
coasts, and
of Vikings from
northern waters.
Middle Age (987-1498)
The Kingdom of France in the Middle Ages (roughly, from the 10th century to the middle of the 15th century;
for the period before Hugh Capet's accession to the throne, see Francia and Carolingian Empire) was
marked by the expansion of royal control by the House of Capet (987–1328); from the 12th and 13th centu-
ries on, France was at the center (and often originator) of a vibrant cultural production that extended across
Europe, including: the transition of Romanesque architecture to Gothic architecture (originating in 12th-
century France) and Gothic art; the foundation ofmedi-
eval universities (such as the universities
of Paris, Montpellier (1220), Toulouse (1229),
and Orleans (1235)) and the so-called
"Renaissance of the 12th century".
Early Modern History
When Charles VIII (reigned 1483–98) led the
French invasion of Italy in 1494, he initiated a se-
ries of wars that were to last until the Peace of Ca-
teau-Cambrésis in 1559. These wars were not es-
pecially successful for the French, but they corre-
sponded to the contemporary view of the obliga-
tions of kingship. They also had their effects upon
the development of the French state; in particular,
they threatened to alter not only the military and
administrative structure of the monarchy but even
its traditional role. The year 1789 is the great di-
viding line in the history of modern France. The fall
of the Bastille, a medieval fortress used as a state
prison, on July 14, 1789, symbolizes for France, as
well as for other nations, the end of the premodern
era characterized by an organicist and religiously
sanctioned traditionalism.
19th Century. THE CONVERGENCE OF REVOLUTIONS, 1789
THE JURIDICAL REVOLUTION
Louis XVI’s decision to convene the Estates-General in May 1789 became a turning point in French histo-
ry. When he invited his subjects to express their opinions and grievances in preparation for this event—
unprecedented in living memory—hundreds responded with pamphlets in which the liberal ideology of
1789 gradually began to take shape.
A seismic shift was occurring in elite public opinion. What began in 1787–88 as a conflict between royal
authority and traditional aristocratic groups had become a triangular struggle, with “the people” opposing
both absolutism and privilege. A new kind of political discourse was emerging.
CONSTITUTIONALISM AND REACTION, 1815–30
King Louis XVIII’s second return from exile was far from glorious. Neither the victorious powers nor Lou-
is’s French subjects viewed his restoration with much enthusiasm, yet there seemed to be no ready alter-
native to Bourbon rule. The allies avenged themselves for the Hundred Days by writing a new and more
severe Treaty of Paris. France lost several frontier territories, notably the Saar basin and Savoy (Savoie),
that had been annexed in 1789–92; a war indemnity of 700 million francs was imposed. The era of mod-
erate rule (1816–20) was marked by a slow but steady advance of the liberal left. Each year one-fifth of
the Chamber faced reelection, and each year more independents won seats, despite the narrowly restrict-
ed suffrage. The cultural climate of the later 19th century in France, as in the Atlantic world generally, was
strongly marked by the current called positivism. A new interest in science and a new vogue ofrealism in
literature and the arts prevailed during the Second Empire; it was best embodied in the novels of Gustave
Flaubert and the paintings of Gustave Courbet. The French also showed great creativity in pure science
and made major discoveries in a wide variety of fields. Among the most notable figures were Louis Pas-
teur in medicine, Pierre and Marie Curie in physics, Marcelin Berthelot in chemistry, Henri Poincaré in
mathematics, and Jean-Martin Charcot in psychopathology. In the social sciences the work of Gustave Le
Bon and Émile Durkheim had a broad and enduring impact.
France since 1940 (WARTIME FRANCE). The German victory left the French groping for a new policy
and new leadership. Some 30 prominent politicians—among them Édouard Daladier and Pierre Mendès-
France—left for North Africa to set up a government-in-exile there; but Pétain blocked that enterprise by
ordering their arrest on arrival in Morocco. The undersecretary of war in the fallen Reynaud cabi-
net, General Charles de Gaulle, had already flown to London and in a radio appeal on June 18, 1940,
summoned French patriots to continue the fight; but few heard or heeded his call in the first weeks. It was
to Pétain, rather, that most of the nation looked for salvation. Parliament met at Vichy on July 9–10 to
consider France’s future. The session was dominated by Pierre Laval, Pétain’s vice premier, who was
already emerging as the strongman of the government. Laval, convinced that Germany had won the war
and would thenceforth control the Continent, saw it as his duty to adapt France to the new authoritarian
age.

3. 3

4. 4
Symbolism. Numerous national symbols are associated with the French Revolution, which established the
nation as a democratic republic at the end of the eighteenth century. They were further reinforced during the
Third Republic at the turn of the twentieth century. Known as the tricolour, the flag is blue, white, and red.
White is associated with monarchy, red with the republic, and blue with Charlemagne, Clovis, and other early
rulers.
The national identity is based on several factors, including a concept of shared ancestry coming from the Gal-
lic and Frankish past and territorial roots in the countryside, a shared national language and culture, and the
ideals of the revolution. It has also been shaped by religious conflicts between Catholics, Protestants, and
Jews and by religious versus secular influences on government, especially in the realm of education. Current
national identity is primarily an invention of the Third Republic.
Language. The official language is French, which is by far the majority language, having been im-
posed on the regional populations since the nineteenth century. The nation historically has been divided into
two linguistic regions: that of the langue d'oeil to the north and that of the langue d'oc to the south. National
Ethnic Relations. In a multiethnic state, there are two major types of ethnic group identity that
which is associated with territorial groups claiming a separate identity from the dominant French
identity and that which is associated with immigrants, such as North Africans. About 4.5 million for-
eigners live in France. These immigrants have come from various nations. The country has offered
political asylum to peoples such as Cambodians and Czechs. The largest immigrant groups are the
Portuguese, Algerians, Moroccans, Spanish, Italians, and Tunisians.
Religious Beliefs. France has been dominated by the influence of the Catholic
Church, yet the constitution declares it to be a "secular" country. About 80 per-
cent of the population is Roman Catholic. The second largest religion in terms of
adherents is Islam. There are about a million Protestants; 700,000 Jews; and
200,000 Orthodox (Russian and Greek) Christians. There is also a significant
Buddhist population. About 15 percent of the population claims the status of a
nonbeliever. The dominance of Catholicism is historically linked to the conver-
sion of Clovis in 496. In most of the country, communes began as parishes, and
most rural villages see the local church building as a symbol of local identity.
Food in Daily Life. Food plays a major role in the
country's social life. Wine and cheese are sources of national pride and reflect re-
gional differences. Meals are ritualized, and full of social and cultural meaning.
A typical family meal starts with a soup, followed by vegetables and a meat dish
and then a salad, cheese, and dessert. Wine is commonly served at meals. Chil-
dren begin to drink wine during family dinners in their early teens, often drinking
wine diluted with water. Most daily food preparation is done by wives and mothers
in family settings even if both spouses work full-time.
Four-fifths of the population now lives in urban areas. More than half the urban
population lives in suburbs, however. A movement of population back to rural
areas, if not back to farming, has existed since the 1970s. Only 3 percent of
the population is employed in agriculture. Regions and cities are linked through
an extensive rail system controlled by Societé Nationale des Chemins de Fer
de France (SNCF). It is headquartered in Paris, with twenty-three regional are-
as.

5. 5
France, officially French Republic, French France or République Française, country of northwestern Europe. Historically and culturally among the most important nations in the Western
world, France has also played a highly significant role in international affairs, with former colonies in every corner of the globe. Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea,
the Alps and the Pyrenees, France has long provided a geographic, economic, and linguistic bridge joining northern and southern Europe. It is Europe’s most important agricultural producer and
one of the world’s leading industrial powers
France is one of the major economic powers of the world, ranking along with such countries as the United States, Japan, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Its financial position reflects an extended period of unprecedented growth that last-
ed for much of the postwar period until the mid-1970s; frequently this period was referred to as the trente glorieuses (“thirty years of glory”). Between 1960 and 1973 alone, the increase in gross domestic product (GDP) averaged nearly 6 percent each year. In the aftermath of the oil
crises of the 1970s, growth rates were moderated considerably and unemployment rose substantially. By the end of the 1980s, however, strong expansion was again evident. This trend continued, although at a more modest rate, into the 21st century. During the same postwar peri-
od, the structure of the economy was altered significantly. While in the 1950s agriculture and industry were the dominant sectors, tertiary (largely service and administrative) activities have since become the principal employer and generator of national wealth. Similarly, while it was
once the heavily urbanized and industrialized regions of northern and northeastern France that were developing most rapidly, in the 1980s these areas began losing jobs and population. Contemporary growth has switched to regions that lie in the south and, to a lesser degree, the
west of France.
Despite the dominance of the private sector, the tradition of a mixed economy in France is well established. Successive governments have intervened to protect or promote different types of economic activity, as has been clearly reflected in the country’s national plans and national-
ized industries. In the decades following World War II, the French economy was guided by a succession of national plans, each covering a span of approximately four
to five years and designed to indicate rather than impose growth targets and development strategies.
The public sector in France first assumed importance in the post-World War II transition period of 1944–46 with a series of nationalizations that included major banks
such as the National Bank of Paris (Banque Nationale de Paris; BNP) and Crédit Lyonnais, large industrial companies such as Renault, and public services such as
gas and electricity. Little change took place after that until 1982, when the then Socialist government introduced an extensive program of nationalization. As a result,
the enlarged public sector contained more than one-fifth of industrial employment, and more than four-fifths of credit facilities were controlled by state-owned banking
or financial institutions. Since that period successive right-wing and, more recently, left-of-centre
governments have returned most enterprises to the private sector; state ownership is primarily con-
centrated in transport, defense, and broadcasting.
Postwar economic growth has been accompanied by a substantial rise in living standards, reflected
in the increasing number of families that own their home (about half), a reduction in the workweek
(fixed at 35 hours), and the increase of vacation days taken each year by the French people. Anoth-
er indicator of improved living standards is the growth of ownership of various household and con-
sumer goods, particularly such items as automobiles and computers. Over time, however, con-
sumption patterns have altered significantly. As incomes have risen, proportionately less has been
spent on food and clothing and more on items such as housing, transportation, health, and leisure.
Workers’ incomes are taxed at a high to moderate rate, and indirect taxation in the form of a value-
added tax (VAT) is relatively high. Overall, taxes and social security contributions levied on employ-
ers and employees in France are higher than in many other European countries.
FRANCE INDIA
Population(million) 66.02 77.45
Inflation Rate(%) -0.40 5.11
CPI (Index Point) 126.45 119.40
PPP(USD) 35969.10 5238.20
Unemployability rate 10.4 5.2
Imoprt (USD Million) 46425.57 32210
Export (USD Million) 42556.86 23880

6. 6
The leading industrial sectors in France are telecommunications
(including communication satellites), aerospace and defense, ship
building (naval and specialist ships), pharmaceuticals, construction
and civil engineering, chemicals, textiles, and automobile produc-
tion. Research and development spending is also high in France at
2.26% of GDP, the fourth-highest in the OECD.
France has an extensive railway system, the Société Nationale des
Chemins de Fer Français (SNCF). The first of a number of high-
speed rail lines (TGVs) was completed in 1983, linking Paris and
Lyons.
Ferrous and nonferrous mining and metallurgy
Machinery, transportation equipment, electrical engineering
Chemicals, rubber, artificial fibers, artificial fertilizers
Textiles, clothing, leather
Food Processing
Leading imports are machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil,
aircraft, plastics, and chemicals. Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain,
Great Britain, and the United States are the main trading partners.
The chief ports are Rouen, Le Havre, Cherbourg, Brest,Saint-
Nazaire, Nantes, Bordeaux, Toulon, Dunkirk, and Marseilles.
Agricultural Activities. France has a usable agricultural area
of nearly 74 million acres, more than three-fifths of which is used
for arable farming, followed by permanent grassland and perma-
nent crops such as vines and orchards. Areas in which arable
farming is dominant lie mostly in the northern and western regions
of the country, centred on the Paris Basin. Agriculture employs
relatively few people—about 3 percent of the labour force—and
makes only a small contribution to GDP—about 2 percent. Yet
France is the EU’s leading agricultural nation, and alone is respon-
sible for more than one-third of the EU’s production of oilseeds,
cereals, and wine.
Resources and power. Compared with its agricultural resources, the country
is far less well-endowed with energy resources. Coal reserves are estimated at
about 140 million tons, but French coal suffered from being difficult and expensive
to mine and from its mediocre quality. In 1958 annual production amounted to some
60 million tons; 40 years later this total had dropped to less than 6 million tons; and
in 2004 the last coal mine was shuttered. Imported coal had long supplemented in-
digenous production. Imports originate mainly from Australia, the United States,
South Africa, and Germany.
MINERALS. The metal industry is poorly supplied by indigenous raw materials, alt-
hough traditionally France was an important producer of iron ore and bauxite. Iron
ore output exceeded 60 million tons in the early 1960s, originating principally in Lor-
raine; but production has now ceased, despite the continued existence of reserves.
Low in metal content and difficult to agglomerate, Lorraine ores were thus long sup-
plemented and have now been replaced by richer overseas supplies from such
countries as Brazil, Sweden, and Australia.
ENERGY. Through the post-World War II years, the increase in the demand for en-
ergy has closely followed the rate of economic growth. In the early 21st century re-
newable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, gained new prominence.
Although wind power generated less than 3 percent of the electricity consumed in
and new facilities were planned in accordance with EU renewable energy directives.
France in 2010, the country’s “wind potential” was the second largest
in Europe, In addition, France’s installed solar capacity increased by
almost 700 percent between 2009 and 2011, and its 2.5 gigawatts of
production represented almost 4 percent of the world’s total.
Manufacturing
INDUSTRIAL TRENDS. French industry was long the powerhouse of
the country’s postwar economic recovery. Yet, after a period of sub-
stantial restructuring and adjustment, particularly during successive
periods of recession since the late 1970s, this sector (including con-
struction and civil engineering) now employs only about one-fourth of
the country’s workforce and contributes the same proportion of GDP.
On the basis of employment and turnover, seven branches of manufacturing stand
out as particularly important: vehicles, chemicals, metallurgy, mechanical
engineering, electronics, food, and textiles. The vehicle industry is dominated by the
activities of the two automobile manufacturers, Peugeot SA (including Citroën) and
Renault, which together produce nearly four million cars annually. France also pos-
sesses an important industry for the manufacture of railway locomotives and rolling
stock, for which the expanding high-speed train (train à grande vitesse; TGV) net-
work represents a major market.

7. 7
GOVERNMENT. Since the Revolution of 1789, France has had an extremely uniform and centralized administration,
although constitutional changes in 2003 now permit greater autonomy to the nation's regions and departments. The country
is governed under the 1958 constitution (as amended), which established the Fifth French Republic and reflected the views
of Charles de Gaulle. It provides for a strong president, directly elected for a five-year term; an individual is limited to two
terms as president. A premier and cabinet, appointed by the president, are responsible to the National Assembly, but they
are subordinate to the president. The bicameral legislature consists of the National Assembly and the Senate. Deputies to
the 577-seat National Assembly are elected for five-year terms from single-member districts. The 348 senators are elected
for six-year terms from each department by an electoral college composed of the deputies, district council members, and
municipal council members from the department, with one half of the Senate elected every 3 years.
France's 22 administrative regions (see above under Land ) each have a directly elected regional council, primarily respon-
sible for stimulating economic and social activity. The regions are further divided into 96 departments (not including the four
overseas departments), which are governed by a locally elected general council, with one councilor per canton. Further sub-
divisions are districts, cantons, and communes. The districts and cantons have little power. The communes, however, are
more powerful because they are responsible for municipal services and are represented in the national government by the
mayor.
Political process. Universal suffrage at the age of 21 has existed in France since 1848 for men and since 1944 for
women; the age of eligibility was lowered to 18 in 1974. Legislation enacted in the late 1990s penalizes political parties for
failing to maintain sufficient parity between male and female candidates. Candidates for the National Assembly must receive a majority, not a plurality, of votes, and, if no candidate receives an absolute majority, then a second
ballot is held the following week and the post is awarded to the plurality winner. Elections follow the model of single-member districts rather than proportional representation within a district. Two-phase voting is also used for the
presidency, with the exception that, if an absolute majority is not reached after the first ballot, then only the two highest vote getters are considered for the second ballot, which is contested two weeks later.
Justice. In France there are two types of jurisdictions: the judiciary that judges trials between private persons and punishes infringements of the penal law and an administrative judicial system that is responsible for settling law-
suits between public bodies, such as the state, local bodies, and public establishments, as well as private individuals.
THE JUDICIARY. For civil cases the judiciary consists of higher courts (grande instance) and lower courts (tribunaux d’instance), which replaced justices of the peace in 1958. For criminal cases there are tribunaux correctionnels (“courts of correction”) andtribunaux de police, or “police courts,” which try minor
offenses. The decisions of these courts can be referred to one of the 35 courts of appeal. Felonies are brought before the assize courts established in each département, consisting of three judges and nine jurors.
ADMINISTRATIVE COURTS. One of the special characteristics of the French judicial system is the existence of a hierarchy of administrative courts whose origins date to Napoleon. The duality of the judicial system has been sometimes regarded unfavourably, but the system has come to be gradually ad-
mired and indeed widely adopted in continental European countries and in the former French colonies.
ARMED FORCE. Since 1958 the military administration has been divided by various functions; it includes strategic nuclear forces, territori al-defense forces, mobile forces, and task forces. France has had the atomic bomb since 1960 and the hydrogen bomb since 1968. The nation withdrew from
the integrated military command of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1966, but in 1995 it took a seat on the NATO Military Committee, and in 2009 it announced its plan to return to the organization’s command structure. An all-volunteer army was in place by 2002, though previously every
French male 18 years of age had been subject to one year of compulsory military service.
SOCIAL SECURITY AND HEALTH. Almost everyone is covered by the social security system, notably after the reform of 1998 that extended coverage to those previously excluded owing to lack of income. Social insurance was introduced in 1930 and family allowances in 1932, but the comprehensive rules
for social security were established in 1946. The hospital reform of 1960 joined hospitals and medical schools through the creation of teaching hospitals. Private hospitals and clinics operate alongside public hospitals, and the cost of treatment in private facilities may also be partially reimbursed from social
security funds. Since the enactment of legislation in 1991, the government has sought to rationalize the distribution of hospitals to take advantage of shifting population densities, changing health care needs, and new technology.
President Francois Hollande and Prime Minister Manuel Valls

8. 8
Geopolitical Imperatives
 Secure a larger hinterland.
 Always look east.
 Maintain influence in regions beyond Europe.
 Be flexible.
Secure a Larger Hinterland. France is the only country on the North European Plain that has an option for expansion into useful territories beyond its core without directly clashing with another major power. This begins with expanding down the plain to the Pyrenees, but many oth-
er regions are worth the time: the Rhone valley, the Mediterranean coast between the Pyrenees and the Alps, the Cotentin and Brittany Peninsulas, and even the Massif Central. While none of these areas can compare with the fertility and capital-generation capacity of the Beauce, all are valuable areas
in their own right and most grant Paris influence in regions beyond the North European Plain. Assimilating those regions -- populated with Bretons, Basques and Galo-Romans -- was not a simple task. Linguistic and ethnic differences require centuries to grind away. But unlike most of the similar regions
in Europe, in France there are no other powers that are well-positioned to interfere with this process. The Scots and Sicilians could be reached via the sea, the Serbs and Bulgarians by any number of routes. But the minorities of France could only be accessed through France itself, making France
uniquely able to centralize not only government but also identity.
Always Look East. Being situated at the western end of the North European Plain
makes France the only country on the plain that has only one land approach to defend
against. Paris must be ever vigilant of developments elsewhere down the plain and be
prepared to intervene on any stretch of the plain it can reach in order to forestall or ham-
string potential threats.
As France discovered that it must centralize, the Beauce became even more important
and -- due to its position on the plain -- more vulnerable. It became quite clear to its rivals
that making a run for Paris and thus knocking out the nerve center of France was a simple
means of taking over the entire country. The Maginot Line is simply the 20th century incar-
nation of a series of fortresses that were first built in the 17th century in an attempt to fore-
stall a military conquest.
In other eras the French were more proactive, sometimes occupying portions of the Neth-
erlands or Germany as France did near the end of the Hapsburg era, sometimes carving
out buffer states as it did with Belgium in the 19th century.
Maintain Influence in Regions Beyond Western Europe
Unlike the United Kingdom, whose expansion into empire was a natural step in its evolution as a naval power, France's overseas empire was almost wholly artificial. The empire did not exist to expand Paris' power
per se but to grant the French an eye and hand in far off places to complicate the doings of others. North African colonies could be used to disrupt Italy, North American and Southeast Asian colonies to cause heart-
burn for the English. It did not so much matter that these colonies were profitable (most were not) so long as a French presence in them complicated the lives of France's foes. This strategy continued throughout the
Cold War as France used a long list of third-world leaders to complicate American, British, Soviet and German policies globally (roughly in that order).
These colonial assets served one more critical role for Paris: They were disposable. Because they were not designed to be profitable, it did not unduly harm France when they were lost or traded away. After all,
France's primary concern is the North European Plain. If a piece of the empire needed to be used as a chip on the poker table that is Europe, so be it. Louisiana was sold for loose change in order to fund the Napole-
onic wars, while Algeria was ultimately abandoned -- despite being home to some 1 million ethnic French -- so that Charles de Gaulle could focus attention on more important matters at home and in the rest of Eu-
rope.
Be Flexible
Geopolitics is not ideological or personal, although few countries have the discipline to
understand that. To survive, nation-states regularly need to ally with powers they find less
than ideal. For example, the United States sided with Soviet Russia during World War II
and Maoist China during the Cold War to gain advantage over its rivals. But France takes
this concept to new heights. France's position on the western end of the North European
Plain and sitting astride the only reliable connections between Northern and Southern Eu-
rope make it remarkably exposed to European and North African developments. France
does possess a great deal of arable states against fellow Catholic states during Europe's
religious wars.
Challenges Ahead
Today, France is faced with a Germany that is still tied to Paris via the European Union
and NATO but is beginning to think for itself. It will take all of Paris' diplomatic flexibility,
acumen and influence to maintain France's position as one of the world's premier powers.
It will have to make itself indispensable to Berlin's control of Europe while making sure
that it has Germany outmaneuvered on the global stage. It is a difficult challenge, but
France has a 1,000-year history of diplomatic intrigue and Machiavellian politics land and
navigable waterways, but these are not sufficient resources to deal with the multiple chal-
lenges that its neighborhood constantly poses from many directions. Consequently,
France makes these kinds of less-than-ideal alliances far more often than other states.
Luckily, its penchant for obtaining influence on a global scale (its third imperative) pro-
vides it with no end of potential partners. Throughout France's history, it has allied not on-
ly with the Ottoman Empire against its fellow Western Europeans but also with Protestant
German from which to draw.

9. 9
Indo-French Relations
Political Relations: Relations between India and France have traditionally been close and friendly. With the establishment of strategic partnership in 1998, there has been a significant progress
in all areas of bilateral cooperation through regular high-level exchanges at the Head of State/Head of Government levels and growing cooperation and exchanges including in strategic areas such as defence,
counter-terrorism, nuclear energy and space. France was the first country with which India entered into an agreement on civil nuclear cooperation following the waiver given by the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group,
enabling India to resume full civil nuclear cooperation with the international community. There is also a growing and wide- ranging cooperation in other areas such as trade and investment, culture, science &
technology and education. France has consistently supported India’s increasing role in international fora, including India’s permanent membership of the UNSC.
Major Visits: The momentum of bilateral exchanges has been maintained at the highest level over recent years. A clear indication of the importance that France assigns to the strategic partner-
ship with India was the fact that India was the first country in Asia that the President chose for a bilateral visit. President François Hollande paid a State visit to India on 14-15 February, 2013. He was accom-
panied by a 6 member Ministerial delegation as well as a large business delegation. A joint statement was issued at the conclusion of the delegation level talks. In Mumbai, he interacted with Indian business
leaders. Four principal agreements signed during the visit were: (1) Cultural Exchange Programme (2) Letter of Intent on intensification of Cooperation in the fields of Education and Research (3) Statement of
Intent for long-term Cooperation in Space (4) Joint Statement to follow-up and strengthen cooperation in the railway sector. In addition, there were a series of agreements signed in the Education, Science &
Technology sectors. EAM Shri Salman Khurshidpaid an official visit to Paris on 10-11 January, 2013 to prepare for the Presidential State Visit
in February. During the visit, he held talks with his counterpart Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius as well as the Minister for Ecology, Sustainable
Development, Transport and Energy, MmeDelphineBatho and the Minister for Higher Education and Research, Mme Genevieve Fioraso. Other
major visits to France from India include Minister of Culture in April 2013, Minister for Urban De- velopment in June 2013, Minister for Civil Avia-
tion for the 50th Air Show in June 2013, Commerce, Industries and Textiles Minister in May and again in July 2013. The French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian visited India on July 25-27, 2013. French Minister for Women’s Right and
Spokesperson of French Government visited India in October 2013.
Bilateral Trade & Investment Cooperation: Bilateral trade: After increasing by almost 6% in 2012, India-France trade in 2013 (January- October) saw a contraction mainly due to reduction in French exports to India as well as imports
from India due to weak demand. India, in the first 10 months of 2013, registered a trade surplus of €1.05 billion, an increase of almost 80% over the same period in 2012. By October 2013, the total goods trade between France and India had
reached € 6.8 billion, registering a decline of 6.2% over the same period in 2012. India’s exports to France fell by 3.3% whereas French exports to India declined by 10.2%. The biggest decline in Indian exports to France came in refined petro-
leum, which declined by almost 40%, while export of apparel and clothing, which regained their position as India’s top export to France, also contracted by 3.65%.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) approvals:France has emerged as one of the major source of FDI for India with over 750 French companies already present in India. French companies continue to look at India as an attractive investment
destination. However, French SMEs, have so far not invested heavily in India. Top sectors at- tracting FDI inflows from France are Chemicals (other than fertilizers), Cement and Gypsum Products, Services Sector (financial & non-financial),
Fuels (power & oil refinery), Electrical Equipment (including computer software & electronics) and automobile sector. These include major French companies like Capgemini, Schneider Electric, Lafarge, Renault, Sanofi Aventis, Essilor, BNP
Paribas, Louis Dreyfus, Armateurs, Alstom, Areva, Saint-Gobain, Onyx, PernodRicard, Alcatel- Lucent, Louis Vuitton, L’Oreal, GDF, Total, Danone, Air Liquide, Vici, Veolia, Vicat etc. Indian companies have also invested in France. They con-
tinued to look for investment opportunities in France, including investments by Larsen &Tubro, Trans Asia Bio Medical and TCS for making acquisitions.
Civil Nuclear Energy Cooperation: A landmark Agreement on Civil Nuclear Cooperation was signed between India and France on 30 September, 2008 during the visit of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to France. Subsequently, during the visit of President Nicolas Sarkozy to India
from 4-7 December 2010, the General Framework Agreement and the Early Works Agreement between NPCIL and Areva for implementation of EPR NPP Units at Jaitapur were signed. Discussions are being held between two sides for implementation of the agreement.
Space Cooperation: France and India view each other as important partners in space technology and applications. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and its French counterpart Centre National de Etudes Spatiales (CNES) have a rich history of cooperation and collaboration
spanning about five decades. Scientific community of the two nations cooperates in joint radiation experiment, space components development and space education. On 25th July, India’s advanced weather satellite, INSAT-3D, and on 29th August 2013, India’s advanced communication satellite, GSAT-7,
were launched on-board the Ariane from Kourou, French Guyana.
A 'Science Seminar' and 'Research and Technology Workshop' was organised in Bangalore during February 05-06, 2013 and ISRO and CNES have jointly identified areas of further cooperation. Under a commercial Launch Service Agreement between Antrix Corporation Limited and ASTRIUM SAS, a
Company under EADS, France, an advanced Remote Sensing satellite - SPOT -6 built by ASTRIUM SAS was successfully launched on- board ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle on 9 September 2012.Arianespace based at France has been the major provider of launch services to Indian Geo-
Stationary satellites. Subsequent to the launch of APPLE satellite on a co-operative mode, 17 Geo-Stationary satellites of India have been launched by Ariane on a commercial basis.

10. 10
Defence Cooperation: Within the framework of structured talks under the Indo-French Defence Cooperation Agreement several meetings on industrial collaboration and service exchanges are held regularly.
The High Level Committee for Defence Cooperation (HCDC) at the level of Defence Secretaries, met in New Delhi on 26-27 April 2012 and the next round is scheduled in 2014. The 11th meeting of the Indo-French
Research Forum (IFRF) was held in Paris from 17-19 December 2012.
The first India-France joint army exercise, SHAKTI was conducted in India at Chaubattia from 9-22 October 2011. SHAKTI-13, Indo-French Joint Army Exercise was conducted in French Alps in September 2013.
Indo-French Air Force Exercise GARUDA IV was held at Istres air base in France from 14 - 25 June 2010. Indo - French Naval Exercise, VARUNA was held in the Mediterranean sea off the port of Toulon from 19-
22 July, 2012. Government of India has selected Rafale from M/s Dassault Aviation, France for procurement of 126 MMRCA for the Indian Air Force. Contract negotiations are currently ongoing.
Cultural Cooperation: Indian culture enjoys a wide and discerning audience among the French population, as is evident in the numerous and frequent cultural events organized all over France, span-
ning the entire spectrum of Indian art, music, dance, cinema and literature. The Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) for 2013-15 was signed during the visit of President Hollande to India in February 2013. The
Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) sponsored in 2013 visits of Indian artists to France as also exchange of students in the field of culture and art. A significant number of Indian artists also performed in
France on a commercial basis or at the initiative of various local cultural associations, outside the purview of official exchanges. In keeping with the importance both the countries accord to cinema and the willing-
ness to enhance cooperation in the field, a revised Indo-French Bilateral Film Co- Production Agreement was signed during the visit of French President to India in December 2010. The 15-month long Indian cultural
festival - “Namaste France" held from 14 April, 2010 to 28 June, 2011 was a comprehensive presentation of Indian culture including art, music, dance, fashion, films, and literature as also business and education.
The Festival was organized in response to ‘Bonjour India’, a French cultural festival, organized by the French Embassy in India in 2009
-2010. The French Embassy in India has successfully organized the second edition of ‘Bonjour India’ from January-March, 2013. The
second edition of ‘Namaste France’ would be held in France. The Centenary of Indian cinema in 2013 was celebrated by various film
festivals in France who dedicated full thematic events to Indian cinema, including the famous Cannes International Film Festival.
Cooperation in the field of Railways: During the visit of President Hollande to India in February, 2013, a Joint statement to follow up and strengthen the cooperation in the Railways sector between the two coun-
tries was signed by Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal, Minister of Railways, India and Mme Nicole Bricq, Minister of Foreign Trade, Mr.FredericCuvillier, Minister of Transportation Sea and Fishing, France. Also a Memorandum of Un-
derstanding for Technical cooperation in the field of Railways between Indian Railways and SociétéNationale des Chemins de FerFrançais
(SNCF), the French National Railways was signed. There is a regualr exchange of delegations from both sides to discuss the cooperaiton in the
field of Railways.
Indian Community in France: The Indian community, including NRIs, in France is estimated to be around 106,000, largely originating
from Puducherry, Karaikal, Yanam, Mahe and Chandranagar. There are also large communities of PIOs in the Reunion Island (about 250,000),
Guadeloupe (about 57000), Martinique (about 6000) and St. Martin (about 300), the overseas territories/departments of France.
Indian Troops on the Champs Elysées (14th July 2009)
French Musicians for the Military Music Festival under India Gate

11. 11
2015-02-27
Rwandan President Paul Kagame arrives in Paris on Friday to attend a meeting of the UN's cultural
agency. But he is not
expected to meet
French officials while in
the country, which he
regularly accuses of
complicity in the 1994
genocide.
Kagame has not visited
France since Septem-
ber 2011 and Friday’s
visit will be his first
since an April 2014
lambast against French
"participation” in the
genocide during the
20th anniversary of the
mass killings.
2015-02-26
French President François Hollande arrived in the Philippines Thursday accompanied by two of
France’s leading actresses, Marion Cotillard and Mélanie Laurent, to promote the fight against climate
change ahead of a crucial summit later this year.
Hollande is using the two-day trip, the first by a French president to the Philippines, to attempt to build
diplomatic momentum for December’s UN summit of world leaders in Paris.
France seeks Silicon Valley allies in war on terror
2015-02-21
France’s Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve toured the Silicon Valley on Friday to drum up
support for the fight against online terrorist propaganda.
Cazeneuve asked representatives of tech giants Google, Facebook and Twitter to work direct-
ly with French officials during investigations and to immediately remove terrorist propaganda
when authorities alert them to it. “We emphasized that when an investigation is underway we
don't want to go through the usual government to government channels, which can take so long,”
the interior minister told reporters at the French Consulate in San Francisco.
His visit comes weeks after terrorist attacks on French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo and a Paris
kosher store left 20 people dead, including three gunmen.
The attacks by homegrown terrorists rattled France and raised alarm bells about the spread of ex-
treme Islamist propaganda. Last month, Prime Minister Manuel Valls said 1,400 French residents
had joined or “wanted to join” jihadist groups in Syria and Iraq, such as the Islamic State (IS)
group.
13% of all marriages in Paris last year were gay
Some
1,331 gay
marriages
took place
in the
French
capital in 2014, making up 13.5 percent of the total number of weddings last year according to
figures from city authorities. Same-sex marriages have been legal in France since May 2013 de-
spite significant protests by the country’s conservative opposition. Since the law was passed 18
months ago, some 2,365 gay couples have tied the knot in Paris, just over 14 percent of the total.
Date: November 29, 2014
Location: La Grande Halle de la Vilette, Paris,
France
2014 Red Bull BC One World Champion: Menno
A new World Champion claimed the Red Bull BC
One throne Saturday night in Paris, France. In one
of the most competitive lineups in B-Boy history, B-
Boy Menno of The Netherlands came out on top,
battling his way to victory.