Many aspects to Rafale deal, says French envoy

NAGPUR: The French ambassador to India, Alexandre Ziegler said commercial considerations are not the only factor for weighing deals involving defence cooperation between two countries.

Responding to a question on the controversy related to the Rafale deal, Ziegler while exclusively speaking to TOI on the sidelines of Indo-French conclave, said in such treaties much of strategic interests and capabilities are taken into account too. Though agreements like the Rafale deal certainly take place at the best price with also the best product being the key factor in the decision making process, he said.

Indo-French cooperation, especially in the field of defence and security is not new. With the ties between the two countries being as old as six decades, there is much of strategic interest to be seen between India and France. Be it fighter planes like Raffale or any other item like missiles or helicopters, it has much to do with strategic interest and capability apart from pricing alone which though it is also an important consideration, said Ziegler citing the example of the Scorpene deal.

More than that there has to be a strong element of trust in such deals between the two countries. It is not only just selling, a lot of technology transfer and investment also follow defence deals,” said Ziegler, adding that he continues to be optimistic about future defence ties with India.

On Dassault’s partnership with Reliance, he said though the aircraft deal was between the two governments the choice of business partner was solely of the company.

Earlier in the function, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said Tatas is planning to invest in a steel project in the Naxal-affected Gadchiroli district. The district rich in iron ore was chosen along with Jamshedpur by Jamshedji Tata for a steel plant which eventually came up in Jamshedpur. Now plans have been firmed up by the Tata Group for a plant at Gadchiroli, he said.

The decision on privatization of the Nagpur airport for its further development as a passenger and cargo hub will be taken in a month’s time, said the minister, adding that the Nagpur airport has clocked a profit of Rs22 crore. As against the aim to create 15,000 jobs in Vidarbha during the BJP regime, the targets have exceeded touching 22000 new employment generated.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, Samrudhi Mahamarg the expressway connecting Nagpur and Mumbai is expected to be completed within a couple of years. With the government coming up with a policy to have defence industry corridors, a proposal has been mooted to give the status to the Samruddhi Mahamarg also, said Fadnavis. He said Nagpur will also emerge as a new logistics hub for the railways. On the country moving 23 place ahead on the ease of doing business index of the world bank, Fadnavis said the major contribution on the achievement is of Maharashtra.

French ambassador Alexandre Ziegler and IFCCI chairman Guillaume GIRARD-REYDET, and brain behind event Prasanna Mohile, also graced the occasion.