NEW DELHI: During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Paris, India and France announced that the number of Indian students in France is expected to reach 10,000 this year, a record high.
Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron announced in a joint statement.
The leaders discussed ways to enhance trade and investment between the two countries and agreed to strengthen their partnership in the Indo-Pacific region and on global issues.
Both leaders welcomed the successful launch of the International Classes Scheme last year.
According to the joint statement, “It will create conducive conditions to increase student mobility and meet the target of 30,000 Indian students in France by 2030.
In that regard, they welcomed the rising number of Indian students in France, with 2025 figures expected to reach an unprecedented 10,000.”
The statement also highlighted the operationalization of the Young Professionals Scheme (YPS) under the India-France Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement (MMPA).
It noted that this scheme “will facilitate two-way mobility of youth and professionals, further strengthening the bonds of friendship between people of India and France.”
Modi and Macron stressed the importance of concluding the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote “cooperation in the fields of skill development, vocational education and training,” which will create opportunities for both countries to collaborate in these areas.
They also launched the India-France Roadmap on Artificial Intelligence (AI), emphasizing their “philosophical convergence in their approaches focusing on the development of safe, open, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence.”
The statement concluded by welcoming “the inclusion of Indian startups at the French Startup Incubator Station F,” further encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship between the two countries.
