Bengaluru: The ISRO and the French National Space Agency (CNES) exchanged an ‘Implementing Agreement’ on Thursday for cooperation concerning Human Spaceflight Programme. This was exchanged between ISRO Chairman Dr K Sivan and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affair Jean- Yves Le Drian was specifically on sharing of expertise in space medicines for the Human Spaceflight Programme.

During Jean-Yves Le Drian’s visit to Bengaluru, a MoU was also signed between Karnataka Innovative & Technological Society (KITS) and IFCCI (Indo- French Chamber of Commerce and Industry) to boost up the collaboration between India and France in the field of innovative technology.

The French Foreign Minister is on a tour of India to promote France as an attractive destination for investment and bolster Indo-French space, scientific and technological cooperation.

ISRO in a statement on Thursday said that “Evolution and achievements of Indian space programme and India-France space cooperation and details of the recent space reforms announced by Government of India were presented to the Minister”.

Karnataka Information & Technology & Deputy Chief Minister Dr CN Ashwath Narayan assured full support and cooperation by the Karnataka Government for French start ups and businesses set up by French expats in the state. “France has emerged as a major source of FDI for India with more than 1,000 French establishments already present in India.

This programme is jointly supported by the Ministry of Electronics & IT of India, and the French government. The MoU between KITS and IFCCI has frameworks set for mutual industry facilitation, Joint venture opportunities and industry collaborations to explore potential market opportunities, when a company from one side wants to collaborate with the industry from the other side.