PUDUCHERRY: To promote industrial development, a group of French investors will shortly be visiting Puducherry, Chief Secretary Manoj Parida said.
According to an official release, the new French Consul General Catherine Suard along with Bertrand De Hartingh, chief of Bonjour India project today called on the chief secretary and held discussions in this regard as well as on Indo-French cooperation under the smart city project.
The chief secretary assured that the Puducherry administration will organize a workshop and present various investment opportunities available to the French companies desiring to invest in Puducherry. It may be recalled that Puducherry government had come out with a new industrial policy which includes several concessions and investments. Moreover, the government has also set up a land bank and it is being expanded.
It was also decided to hold the cultural festival Bonjour India around next Republic Day which will be an Indo-French cooperation project to popularize green techno logy mobility and sustainable development, the release said.
The French delegates also discussed with the chief secretary pending proposals regarding the renovation of the iconic Marie building with world bank funds. The 144 years old building which served as a town Hall during the French period and subsequently as Pondicherry Municipality collapsed in 2014.
Parida clarified that the project will be completed by the PWD with technical assistance from INTACH and also the local French experts whose service has already been provided by the French Government.
Welcoming the new consul general to Puducherry, Parida assured that the administration will provide all facilities to the French citizens staying here and also tourists visiting Puducherry.