Macron's Republic Day Gift! France To Welcome 30,000 Indian Students By 2030
Using his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Macron highlighted an initiative to strengthen France's relationship with India, acknowledging India's importance as a crucial partner in the Indo-Pacific region.
In a significant move to strengthen academic ties between the two nations, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Friday that France aims to welcome 30,000 Indian students to its universities by 2030, highlighting his determination to achieve this goal.
AFP
Using his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Macron spotlighted an initiative to strengthen France's relationship with India, acknowledging India's importance as a crucial partner in the Indo-Pacific region. This initiative was announced after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited France in July 2023.
30,000 Indian students in France in 2030: Macron
30,000 Indian students in France in 2030.
¡ª Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) January 26, 2024
It¡¯s a very ambitious target, but I am determined to make it happen.
Here¡¯s how: pic.twitter.com/QDpOl4ujWb
"30,000 Indian students in France in 2030. It's a very ambitious target, but I am determined to make it happen," Macron posted on Friday.
"We will achieve this with you, our young people, in exchange and cooperation, in trust, in friendship," he added, affirming France's commitment to facilitating the visa process for former Indian students.
Macron also announced the launch of new pathways for learning the French language in public schools with the "French for All, French for a Better Future" initiative.
He underlined the development of the network of Alliances fran?aises, introducing new centres for learning French and creating international classes to allow students, regardless of their proficiency in French, to join French universities.
Macron emphasised that France has 35 universities in the QS ranking and approximately 15 in the Times Higher Education ranking, underscoring the pursuit of excellence.
Macron's promise to PM Modi in 2023
During PM Narendra Modi's visit to Paris last year as the chief guest for the country's National Day on July 14, the French President expressed his commitment to hosting 20,000 Indian students by 2025 and increasing the number to 30,000 by 2030.
Macron, the chief guest at the 75th Republic Day parade in New Delhi, arrived in Jaipur on January 25. During their meeting, PM Modi gifted him a replica of Ayodhya's Ram Temple, and the two leaders engaged in discussions to further consolidate strategic cooperation in security, trade, defence, and clean energy.
Reuters
Last year, the French Ambassador Thierry Mathou acknowledged the visa challenges faced by Indian students planning to pursue higher education in France.
However, he expressed optimism about the situation improving, noting France's eagerness to welcome 30,000 Indian students in its higher institutions by 2030¡ªa commitment conveyed by President Emmanuel Macron.
During an interaction with IANS, Ambassador Mathou discussed recent measures, including the five-year short-stay Schengen visa.
He emphasised France's belief that even a semester spent by an Indian student in the country establishes a meaningful connection that should be nurtured.
Notably, Indian students with a Master's degree or higher who have spent at least a semester studying in France are now eligible for this special visa, allowing them to maintain lasting connections with France and their French counterparts.
Notable year for India-France relations
Macron's visit to India marks the culmination of a significant year for India-France relations, celebrating the 25th anniversary of their strategic partnership.
This partnership, the first of its kind that India established with any Western nation, has witnessed substantial advancements across bilateral, regional, and global domains.
As a senior official noted, the collaboration draws strength, trust, and consistency from a shared commitment to strategic autonomy and sovereignty, a vision for a multipolar world, and a mutual embrace of democratic values and the rule of law.
AFP
The key pillars of this partnership encompass defence and security, civil nuclear matters, and space, with a recent addition of a robust Indo-Pacific dimension.
The comprehensive roadmap, initiated during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit in July as the Guest of Honour for Bastille Day, is structured around three pillars¡ªPartnership for Security and Sovereignty, Partnership for the Planet, and Partnership for People.
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Kumar Debvrat is a copyeditor at Indiatimes. He writes about trending topics in India, from human-interest stories to cricket. He has a sharp eye for detail and a passion for storytelling.
