Bangalore: France has rolled out a host
of initiatives including relaxation of visa rules to attract
more Indian students to study there, French Ambassador to
India, Jerome Bonnafont, said here on Thursday.
Currently there were around 1,500 Indian students
studying in France and the French government aims at tripling
this number in the next few years, said Jerome, who was in the
city to announce the launch of an Indo-French festival,
Bonjour India.
The initiatives include roping in organisations like
Alliance Francaise to explain to interested students about the
prospects of studying in France and opportunities thereafter.
"We believe good careers will be international and
those with exposure to overseas studies would have better
prospects in the global job market," he said.
Listing out other initiatives, he said, during the
first year of stay, the visa is being considered as the
residential permit for students. Students were also permitted
to work part time while studying. After graduation students
were given six-months time to find employment, he said.
Replying to a query on loss of jobs arising out of
Indian IT company Wipro closing down one of its centres in
France, he said company chairman Azim Premji has assured that
the company was looking at a long term investment and creation
of new jobs for local people.
"Indian IT companies investing in France is a new
phenomenon and there are lessons to be learnt", he said.
The diverse cultural manifestation through the 18
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, November 19, 2009, 20:34