French trade minister meets Piyush Goyal, discusses bilateral ties, India-EU trade negotiations
New Delhi, March 10 (FN Representative) French Trade Minister Franck Riester on Thursday held talks with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on taking forward the bilateral relationship as well as the India-EU trade talks. Riester, who is on a two-day India visit, also met Indian industry leaders and heard their views on how France can welcome more Indian companies. During his talks with Goyal, they exchanged view on the ongoing WTO negotiations on fisheries and vaccines.
In a tweet, the French minister said: “With my Indian counterpart Shri @PiyushGoyal in Delhi to take our bilateral relationship further, continue EU-India trade negotiations, and exchange views on the ongoing #WTO negotiations on fisheries and vaccines.” The French Ambassador Emmanuel Lenain, said the two ministers today met in Delhi to review ways of boosting France and India’s trade and investment relations. “They also discussed cooperation on reforming world trade and reshaping supply chains post pandemic.” During his meeting with Indian industry leaders, Riester highlighted France’s pro-business reforms, top European FDI destination status and its advantages as a gateway to the European market. The French Minister also paid a visit to the design facility of French company IDEMIA, a global leader in smart solutions for identity security services, in Noida.
IDEMIA specialises in smart solutions for identity security services. With regard to the WTO negotiations on fisheries, India has opposed a move by developed countries at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to scrap subsidies for fishermen, demanding a balance between current and future fishing needs of developing countries as well as effective special and differential treatment (S&DT) keeping in mind their developmental need. India has proposed that countries which are engaged in distant water fishing beyond their natural geographical area should stop their subsidies for 25 years in areas beyond their exclusive economic zones and is also seeking a 25-year horizon for other countries to develop their own fishing sector.