Kochi: The innovation-driven Indo-French partnership presents a significant opportunity for Kerala to enhance trade and economic ties with France, said Etienne Rolland-Piegue, French Consul General for Puducherry and Chennai, at the Invest Kerala Global Summit.Speaking at the country-session on France, Rolland-Piegue emphasized Kerala’s strong potential to attract global investments, particularly from France.”Kerala is amazing… its charm is difficult to resist. The state has a vibrant cultural scene and rich culinary traditions, much like France. Kerala has achieved unparalleled human development milestones in India,” he remarked.Despite these advantages, Kerala remains largely unexplored by French companies. Rolland-Piegue expressed confidence that this “benign neglect” would soon change as Indo-French relations continue to strengthen at both political and economic levels.Currently, around 750 French companies operate in India, employing approximately 4.5 lakh Indians. French Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in India is projected to increase fivefold in the near future.France aims to play a key role in Kerala’s knowledge economy, given the state’s abundant skilled workforce. Rolland-Piegue identified potential areas for collaboration, including shipbuilding, maritime industries, and food and flavor processing.While Kerala boasts a thriving startup ecosystem, many French firms continue to focus on Bengaluru and Hyderabad. He urged French businesses to explore Kerala as an investment destination.On the education front, Rolland-Piegue noted a steady rise in the number of Kerala students studying in France. Currently, 20 percent of Indian students in France hail from Kerala, and he encouraged more students to pursue higher education opportunities there.He also referenced the recent Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit in France, co-chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, highlighting the two nations’ shared commitment to technological advancements and strategic autonomy.”Developing future technologies is a common goal for both leaders. India and France have already designated 2026 as the Indo-French Year of Innovations,” he added.The summit underscored Kerala’s potential as a key destination for French investments and strengthened the economic and technological partnership between India and France.
Source link
