France to Expand Aerospace Collaboration with India
France is to enhance its cooperation with India in the field of space, promoting 'Make in India', as French business leaders visiting the country reiterated their intents on furthering expansion in local investment, employment generation, and production. Reiterating French companies' integration of Indian firms into global supply chains, French Ambassador Thierry Mathou reiterated promises across key sectors such as aerospace and defense as part of industrial cooperation.
Mathou emphasized that aerospace has always been at the core of Indo-French relations, pointing out in an interview, "France has been a strategic partner for over 25 years, with defense and aerospace ties dating back to India's Independence. 'Make in India' has been a reality for the French defense industry for decades", he said, reminding everyone of the much-talked-about transfer of technology for the Cheetah/Chetak helicopter in 1962.
The biggest share goes to aerospace exports, making up over 55% of France's exports to India, generating 2.7 billion euros in the first half of 2024 alone. Among the important markers are hundreds of Airbus planes being operated by IndiGo Airlines, which ordered 500 more in 2023, and the induction of 36 Rafale jets in the Indian Air Force. Cooperation in space between the two countries has progressed from the ISRO-CNES agreement to joint satellite projects as well as military space cooperation.
Mathou reveals that indirect employment in India goes beyond 50,000 via the collaboration of 227 suppliers, while French companies contribute more than a billion euros annually. The biggest players in the aerospace industry, such as Airbus and Thales, spread their wings in the country and open innovation hubs and centers for training. Boeing has started operating engineering centers since over 16 years ago; besides, it has recently partnered with Tata STRIVE to open skill centers in Delhi and Bengaluru in support of talent development.
Cooperation in aerospace between India and France is promising. There are plans to set up an aeronautics and space training campus and discussions over an aeronautics cluster with India's Ministry of Civil Aviation. France has agreed to cooperate with India's commitment to decarbonising air transport by 2050, as India announced it would adopt sustainable aviation fuels by 2027. Mathou described the aerospace sector as a 'win-win cooperation', and she awaits further consolidation through the Year of Innovation the two countries will celebrate in 2026.