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Defence deals to top Francois Hollande's agenda

Hopes are high that the deal would be sealed during Hollande's visit with clear timetables for delivery of the aircraft and setting the scene for a bigger defence deal between the two sides

France will partner India to build three 'smart' cities

Business Standard
India-France relations will be in focus as French President Francois Hollande visits India as chief guest for the 67th Republic Day. Hollande visited Chandigarh on Sunday - whether he will go to former French colony Puducherry is not certain - and energy and defence purchases are on top of the agenda. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been to France twice in 2015, on a bilateral visit in April and for the Climate Change Summit in November. Besides, Indian and French leaders have taken time out for bilateral discussions at practically all multilateral events, such as the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York in September and the G20 meet in Antalya, Turkey, in November. This will be Hollande's second visit to India, the earlier one being two years ago.
 

On his first visit to France, Modi sprung a surprise at a joint press conference with Hollande in Palais Elysee and announced India would buy 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in fly-away condition, saying the terms of this deal would be finalised shortly. The announcement came as a big relief to Dassault, which was on the verge of closing down the Rafale assembly line as it had no firm orders on hand from anywhere.

Hopes are high that the deal would be sealed during Hollande's visit with clear timetables for delivery of the aircraft and setting the scene for a bigger defence deal between the two sides.

Ansari to visit Brunei and Thailand
On February 1 to 5, Vice-President Hamid Ansari will visit Brunei and Thailand. This will by the fist visit by an Indian Vice-President to Thailand in about 50 years. No Vice-President has ever been to Brunei. In Brunei (February 1-3), Ansari will meet Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.

Brunei has become an important partner and ally for India in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), especially as India-Asean coordinator from 2013 to 2015. Brunei supports India's stand on Jammu & Kashmir and has endorsed India's candidature for permanent membership of the UN Security Council. Also, a part of India's requirements of crude and gas can be met from Brunei. The volume of annual trade is only about $1 billion, which is likely to be scaled up with the visit. Brunei has an expatriate Indian population of about 10,000 - mostly doctors, health professionals and teachers. Ansari will be in Thailand from February 3 to 5. Although domestic politics in that country is in a bit of a flux, Ansari will hold discussions with Prime Minister of Thailand, Prayut Chan-o-cha and will have an audience with Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who is a Sanskrit scholar.

J&K government might be formed this week
Will a government in Jammu & Kashmir be formed this week? The candidate for chief minister from the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Mehbooba Mufti, is likely to hold out as long as possible to convey the impression that the PDP is not a bunch of power-hungry politicians. The state government was to present its Budget on January 12. That is long gone. Now, everyone is waiting for a chief minister.

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First Published: Jan 25 2016 | 12:23 AM IST

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