French Senate delegation visits India to boost strategic and parliamentary ties across ports, blue economy, and innovation hubs

A delegation from the French Senate’s Interparliamentary Friendship Group, led by its Chair Senator Mireille Jouve, undertook an official visit to India from 10 to 15 April.

The trip aimed to strengthen inter-parliamentary cooperation and deepen various aspects of the India-France Strategic Partnership. The delegation, in addition to its Chair, comprised senators Louis-Jean de Nicolay and Jean-Marie Mizzon.

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The senatorial delegation began its visit in Mumbai on 10 April, where they toured the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, India’s largest container port. They observed its scale and operational efficiency as a key logistics hub, including the contribution of French shipping company CMA CGM in enhancing innovative and efficient supply chain solutions.

Thereafter, they visited the upcoming Worli water treatment and waste management facility being built by French giant Suez to serve around 2.5 million people.

On 11 April, the delegation travelled for a two-day programme to Puducherry, where they visited the CITIIS 1-funded social housing project under the Smart City initiative, supported by the French Development Agency and the European Union.

They visited the Lycée Français de Pondichéry, which is celebrating its bicentenary, reflecting long-standing educational and cultural ties between France and India. The delegation also paid tribute at the French War Memorial erected in honour of those who had sacrificed their lives during World War I.

On 13 April, in Chennai, the senatorial delegation met Dr Purvaja Ramachandran, Division Chair - Futuristic Research at the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management. Their discussions focussed on coastal resilience, marine biodiversity, and tackling marine pollution.

At the National Institute of Ocean Technology, a key partner for implementing the bilateral blue economy roadmap, they reviewed cooperation under India’s Deep Ocean Mission, partners with French organisation IFREMER. Their focus included deep-sea research, marine technologies, and ocean-based renewable energy.

The delegation also visited the Saint-Gobain R&D Centre, whose innovation ecosystem links academia and industry to promote sustainable development in India.

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In New Delhi for the final leg of their visit (14 - 15 April), the senators were received by Shri Om Birla Speaker of Lok Sabha, for discussions on enhancing inter-parliamentary cooperation as a key pillar of bilateral ties. They later had substantive talks with parliamentarians of the India-France Friendship Group recently created and led by Dr Shashi Tharoor, Chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs.