India and France have signed an agreement in the field of Sustainable Urban Development. The administrative agreement was signed in Paris between Union Minister of Urban Development Kamal Nath and Minister for Foreign Trade of France Ms. Nicole Bricq.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Kamal Nath expressed appreciation for the related work in the field of Sustainable Urban Development carried out in France and felt that India could benefit immensely from the French experience.

He stated that both the countries would benefit from the agreement as it would provide an enabling platform for the officials, professionals, business leaders and local self-governing bodies to meet and share knowledge and best practices in the urban sector. He expressed the hope that this Joint Declaration would lead to enhanced cooperation and deepen the engagement between the two countries.

An official release says, the two Ministers expressed satisfaction at the maturity reached in the strategic relations between India and France. The ministers discussed ways to enhance economic and commercial relations between the countries.

Mr Nath also briefed the French Minister about the recent decisions taken by the Union Government to further liberalise the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) regulations in India and reiterated the Government’s commitment to continuing with liberalisation of the Indian economy.