France India Foundation created to promote leaders of tomorrow boosting strategic ties

Eyeing to expand strategic partnership France India Foundation (FIF) has been set up in India as a new strategic initiative launched as a part of the France Asia Foundation and supported by the Ministry of External Affairs and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The France India Foundation is a private not for profit organisation which aims to promote meaningful dialogue between youth leaders. The flagship program is the Young Leaders Program which took place in New Delhi and Bangalore recently. The first cohort included 25 promising young leaders from India and France who have been chosen based on their exemplary contributions to the fields of business, politics, sports and culture.

“This year, France and India will renew their 25-year-old strategic partnership and set new ambitions for the coming decades. Bringing together young talents from both our countries, from all walks of life, is the best investment we can make in the future of our friendship. After meeting the first cohort of Young Leaders, I am convinced that they will each leave their mark on Indo-French ties in the years to come,” according to Emmanuel Lenain, Ambassador of France to India.


Echoing similar thoughts, Indian envoy to France Jawed Ashraf said, “The France India Foundation is a promising new initiative to create strong links between young leaders from India and France. This could be potentially a useful platform to deepen people to people ties, strengthen mutual understanding and sow the seeds of future partnerships that will contribute to the rapidly growing India-France strategic partnership.”

France Asia Foundation is headquartered in Paris and the goals include encouraging dialogue, developing mutual understanding, driving sustainable development, and fostering cooperation with the Indo-Pacific region. The FIF’s other activities will include events through the year to achieve its agenda, such as thematic conferences, knowledge papers, media-based partnerships, as well as art and science dialogues.