Taj Mahal on Sarkozy's itinerary, sans Bruni
French president Nicholas Sarkozy is all set to fly to Agra to see the Taj Mahal even though model-turned-singer Carla Bruni may have said she is not coming to India.
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: French president Nicholas Sarkozy is all set to fly to Agra to see the Taj Mahal even though model-turned-singer Carla Bruni may have said she is not coming to India.
It has been officially confirmed that Mr Sarkozy will be traveling to Agra in the four-hour gap he has after the Republic Day parade and before the “At Home” reception given by President Pratibha Patil.
It was earlier stated that the French president had a “private engagement” during the four-hour gap fuelling speculation that he intended to go to Agra with his girlfriend. However, the Agra trip still remains on the short two-day itinerary in spite of Bruni ruling out a India visit.
But Agra aside, Mr Sarkozy’s visit is being labelled by the Elysee Palace as an “essentially political” visit.
Mr Sarkozy is expected to send a strong message during the visit that India is as important as China.
Apart from infusing fresh momentum into bilateral ties, which received a jolt over the Eurocopter episode, the visit is also aimed at pushing business links between the two countries.
It has been officially confirmed that Mr Sarkozy will be traveling to Agra in the four-hour gap he has after the Republic Day parade and before the “At Home” reception given by President Pratibha Patil.
It was earlier stated that the French president had a “private engagement” during the four-hour gap fuelling speculation that he intended to go to Agra with his girlfriend. However, the Agra trip still remains on the short two-day itinerary in spite of Bruni ruling out a India visit.
But Agra aside, Mr Sarkozy’s visit is being labelled by the Elysee Palace as an “essentially political” visit.
Mr Sarkozy is expected to send a strong message during the visit that India is as important as China.
Apart from infusing fresh momentum into bilateral ties, which received a jolt over the Eurocopter episode, the visit is also aimed at pushing business links between the two countries.
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Expectations are running high on the business front as Mr Sarkozy, who comes to India after a very successful trade mission to China where business deals worth billions of euros were signed, is coming to India with 60 top French CEOs. There is likely to be an announcement of substantial French investment to the tune of e100 million in contracts for treating drinking water and waste treatment.Download
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