Strong presence of the French Defense Industry at DefExpo 2014 with 18 companies 1001144.

Statement from French Embassy in New Delhi by Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs:

I have personaly witnessed the excellence of bilateral relations between India and France. I would like to point out that such level of cooperation and trust would not be reachable without the existence of shared values. Our mutual attachment to democracy, to the respect of fundamental and human rights, to the rule of law and to the protection of individual and collective freedom is not only the basis of our political partnership, but also the basis of our long standing friendship.

I am delighted with the progress made in the defence field since the establishment in 1998 of the Indo-French strategic partnership, and reflected in the 2006 bilateral Defence agreement. India and France are engaged in a long term strategic partnership. Our defence dialogue between our armed forces are held – like the strategic dialogue – in a spirit of mutual understanding, respect, trust and support, taking into consideration our respective interests.

We have now gone beyond a client-supplier relation. Our cooperation projects should further improve our respective industrial and technological bases in the defence sector and contribute to strengthening the security of both our countries. Our defence cooperation contributes to the reinforcement of India and France’s strategic autonomy. Both our countries attache great importance to this fundamental concept. Our defence cooperation also reflects a great level of trust between us. It is in this spirit, and within a framework marked by the transfer of defence technology and skills, that France wants to assure the continuity of India’s strategic autonomy and sovereignty. These notions lie indeed at the core of our regional and global ambitions.

The deepening of our defence cooperation is also reflected in the operational field through the conduct of land (Shakti), naval (Varuna), and air joint exercises (Garuda), the exchange of officers between our military academies or the organization of particular events and exercises during our ships’ ports of call. These activities represent a fantastic opportunity for us to develop and strengthen our joint capacities and interoperability.

Our industrial cooperation is another cornerstone of our partnership. France is willing to initiate joint codevelopment and co-production projects, which once we decide on together, would include, in the future, exporting the equipment produced in third country markets. Similarly, France is ready to share an increasing level of defence technology, in connection with the development of joint projects.

The construction of six Scorpene submarines in India, the selection of the Rafale fighter aircraft and the cooperation between the DRDO and the French company MBDA within the SRSAM (short-range missiles system) project, are all signs of the vitality and ambition of our industrial and technological relations. I am convinced that our industrial cooperation in the defence area is one of the key elements that will enable us to adress global defence and security issues. The French defence industry is among the world’s most successful and innovative ones. This is why I enthusiastically welcome the strong participation of French industry in Defexpo India, symbol of the excellence of the Indo-French relation.

I wish everyone an excellent show.

Jean-Yves Le Drian,
French Minister of Defence