French Embassy in India is keen on pushing more French investments in Puducherry and has held discussions with Lieutenant governor Virendra Kataria for facilitating the process, said Ambassador of France in India Francois Richier.
Poclain Hydraulics unit in Puducherry, an export oriented French company, is going to scale up its production from 30,000 engines to one lakh engines, Richier said. Already Hanger 17, ATC Chemical and 30 independent entrepreneurs in travel and tourism, hotels and guest houses and shops exists in Puducherry
“It is planned to have a list of all issues for each entrepreneurs desiring to invest in Puducherry and work hand in hand with Puducherry government to facilitate the process of establishing the industry and business so it becomes easy for them,” said Richier. On the medical front, ties with Chu La Reunion hospital in La Reunion, a French island territory in Madagaskar, and JIPMER is on the pipeline. “There exists mutual cooperation with top hospitals in France and JIPMER in the area of Cardiology for the last 30 years. Every year nearly 60 French doctors and nurses receive training on specific diseases in JIPMER and Certh India. Several doctors from Puducherry also come to France for medical training,” he said.
The French government is interested in supporting the Puducherry Beach Restoration Project with technology, but awaits environment clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests. “The French technology Stabiplage was used in Vietnam to stop coastal erosion and was a big success. The technology would be useful for Puducherry.”
Speaking on the land grabbing issue, Richier said, “ 60 cases of land and property grabbing of French citizens in Puducherry have been bought to my notice during. 20 cases are clean enough and could be resolved very quickly. I have discussed the matter with Lieutenant governor and asked him to look into the remaining 40 cases. The Consulate has deputed an officer to take the matter with the authorities concerned,” he said.