France to help for high-speed rail projects

Mumbai: France will help India to set up high-speed rail projects, freight corridors and expand line capacity, the French Minister of State for Transport, Mr Dominique Bussereau, said.

The French National Railways (SNCF) and the Ministry of Railways will be signing a memorandum of understanding on strategic co-operation on Wednesday in Delhi. The MoU will be valid for three years and will be extended for a year on mutual consent.

The French Minister who is currently on visit to this country said that the MoU will cover areas such as safety, signalling, power supply and telecommunications, training and information technology.

“We are not looking at India as a market. We are looking for long-term partnerships which will help both countries. This could be at government level or public private partnerships,” the Minister said. The Minister, who will also be meeting the Civil Aviation Minister Mr Praful Patel, said French companies will also explore co-operation in the aviation and shipping sector.

French companies are also looking for opportunities in all sectors of transport: railway, aviation and shipping.