After the bilateral talks, Modi said financial details need to be worked out in finalising the much-awaited purchase of Rafale jets from France, adding this would be concluded soon.
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India signed an inter-governmental pact on Monday to buy 36 French-built Rafale fighter planes while France’s Areva will build six nuclear reactors in India.
India is to buy 36 Rafale Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) in fly-away condition from France and is negotiating fa almost 20 percent reduction in cost even as the cost of one unit comes around Rs 800 crore. However, the leaders of both countries said there was still work to do to finalise financial terms of the Rafale fighter deal after months of talks. “We have chose to strengthen our cooperation against terror”, Hollande said referring to the massive terrorist attack on Paris in November. Hollande is to be the chief guest at the Republic Day Parade on Tuesday In the shared belief that terrorism can not be justified under any circumstance, regardless of its motivation, wherever and by whomsoever it is committed, both leaders called for decisive action against all terror groups. The two heads of state also released an inter-governmental joint statement. India’s plans have drawn global arms makers into one of the world’s biggest markets.
An estimated 10,000 spectators braved thick smog and air quality levels classified as hazardous on the USA embassy website to watch the display, the highlight of annual celebrations of the birth of modern India.
India and France signed 13 agreements in all on Monday, including some on space co-operation, science and technology and renovation of railway stations in India. Hollande said the final agreement could be achieved in a few days.
67th Republic Day is being celebrated with fervour in India and on this occasion the Indian Army showcased its power and achievements at Rajpath.
The French leader arrived Sunday in the northern city of Chandigarh, where Modi joined him and lauded France’s decision to invest $1 billion every year in India in various sectors.
Dassault Aviation, manufacturer of Rafale, said, “We are very pleased with this progress, and actively supporting French authorities in their efforts to finalise a complete agreement within the next four weeks”.
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Modi and Hollande also jointly laid the foundation stone of the headquarters of the International Solar Alliance and inaugurated its interim secretariat at Gurgaon near the Indian capital New Delhi.
