Rs 60,000-cr deal with France for Rafale fighter jets taking off

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, the first top-level dignitary from France to meet the new Indian government, on Monday pushed for early purchase of the multi-billion dollar Rafale combat aircraft during his meetings with Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj.

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However, he said the deal was "developing positively" and France was confident of a swift final outcome. He added that it was not only important to say yes for a deal but also when it will happen and what will be the terms.

India had selected the French Rafale combat aircraft, in a deal estimated to be over Rs 60,000 crore, two years ago but the negotiations are still continuing between the Indian defence ministry and the French firm Dassault Aviation as there have been issues over pricing and work-sharing.

Fabius, who is in India on a four-day visit, held "fruitful" consultations with Swaraj on key bilateral, regional and international issues including space, civil nuclear energy cooperation, defence, anti-terrorism as well as the situation in Iraq.

On the key issue of civil nuclear cooperation, the spokesperson in the external affairs ministry said, "Civil nuclear cooperation is a pillar of our bilateral strategic partnership and this was discussed. Both sides reiterated their commitment to proceeding with the Jaitapur nuke plant."

The minister also agreed that it was best for the experts to deal with the techno-commercial aspects of the major project which both India and France are committed to as a long-term project between the two countries, the spokesperson said.

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On his part, Fabius said France has no "particular problems" concerning India's nuclear liability law when asked if French companies had concerns over the country's domestic nuclear law.

The visit also comes on a day when India launched a French satellite using its PSLV-C23 rocket.