New Delhi, Jan. 23 : A 11 member business team led by Sunil Bharti Mittal, the President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) called on French on Tuesday at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

During the meeting, President Sarkozy referred to India as the “Future of the World” and described it as one of great and emerging nations of the 21st Century.

The Indian business delegation discussed issues of investment in France; work permits. They also acknowledged good understanding in politics and strategic thinking, but said that trade and investment between France and India needed to improve.

They highlighted the opportunities in infrastructure; in defence equipments especially offset; in healthcare by creating a pool of researchers and academicians; they discussed reduction of drug prices by support to generic drug industry.

The team also discussed the opportunities in the auto industry in India and the need for France to make an iconic investment in India. The business delegation acknowledged that a new chapter in Indo-French relations was expected with President Sarkozy at the helm in France. There were discussions on building synergies between SMEs.

In echoing his view of the changing global economic and political order, President Sarkozy was emphatic about India`s role and responsibilities at the high table of global leadership. (ANI)