The Rhône-Alpes region of France, a key engine of Europe’s economic growth, has initiated steps to foster closer business ties with India. The regional authorities of Rhône-Alpes have chalked out a long-term road map for helping their companies establish themselves in India and also attract Indian investment in key areas like biotechnology. As a first step in this direction, Enterprises Rhône-Alpes International (ERAI), the economic development agency of the region, is setting up offices in Delhi and Bangalore. The office in Delhi is scheduled to be inaugurated in October, said Jean-Jack Queyranne, president of the Rhône-Alpes Regional Council.

The feeling among the business community of Rhône-Alpes is that forging ties with India is of strategic importance in the long term. The regional authorities in France are vested with wide-ranging powers on economic initiatives and the ERAI has been pro-active in globalising its economy. Indian companies looking for expansion overseas will find lot of interest in Rhône-Alpes in technology-related areas. Nearly 2,000 companies, with a turnover of euro11bn, are working in IT-related segments alone.

<I>Source: Times of India</I>