Technoglitch
Core Member
French president Francois Hollande played down the prospects of a swift conclusion to a drawn-out deal for New Delhi to buy 36 French fighter jets as he began a three-day visit to India on Sunday.
The invitation for Hollande to be chief guest at the Republic Day parade on Tuesday had raised expectations that the multi-billion dollar agreement for the Rafale jets would finally be sealed.
But on landing in Chandigarh, Hollande cooled talk that the contract was on the verge of being signed, saying further discussions were needed on a prior inter-governmental agreement. "We are going to take another step on the road which we hope will lead us to India's acquisition of the 36 Rafale jets," he told reporters.
"India needs them and France has shown that it has the world's best aircraft. "The commercial contract can only come after the inter-governmental accord... which will be discussed during my visit," he added.
Francois Hollande starts India visit, says Rafale jet deal will take time - Times of India
The invitation for Hollande to be chief guest at the Republic Day parade on Tuesday had raised expectations that the multi-billion dollar agreement for the Rafale jets would finally be sealed.
But on landing in Chandigarh, Hollande cooled talk that the contract was on the verge of being signed, saying further discussions were needed on a prior inter-governmental agreement. "We are going to take another step on the road which we hope will lead us to India's acquisition of the 36 Rafale jets," he told reporters.
"India needs them and France has shown that it has the world's best aircraft. "The commercial contract can only come after the inter-governmental accord... which will be discussed during my visit," he added.
Francois Hollande starts India visit, says Rafale jet deal will take time - Times of India
