|
|
France, Dassault Aviation contradict Hollande on Rafale's Indian partners
|
|
|
|
Top Stories |
|
|
|
|
SME Times News Bureau | 22 Aug, 2018
The French government and Dassault Aviation have contradicted former
President Francois Hollande's claim in choosing Indian industrial
partners in the multi-million dollar Rafale jet deal.
The
statement by the French government issued here late Friday comes after
Hollande claimed that the Indian government suggested a particular
private firm for Rafale offset contract.
Hollande was quoted in
an article by a French website as claiming that the Indian government
had asked the French government to nominate Reliance Defence as its
India partner in the deal.
"We did not have a say in this,"
Hollande was quoted by the website as saying. "The Indian government
proposed this service group and Dassault negotiated with Ambani."
In
response to the claim, the Friday night statement said: "The French
government is in no manner involved in the choice of Indian industrial
partners who have been, are being or will be selected by French
companies.
"In accordance with India's acquisition procedure,
French companies have the full freedom to choose their Indian partner
companies that they consider to be the most relevant, then present for
the Indian government's approval the offset projects that they wish to
execute in India with these local partners so as to fulfil their
obligations in this regard."
Dassault Aviation, the makers of the
Rafale jets, in a statement also on Friday night, said: "This offsets
contract is delivered in compliance with the Defence Procurement
Procedure (DPP) 2016 regulations. In this framework, and in accordance
with the policy of 'Make in India', Dassault Aviation has decided to
make a partnership with India's Reliance Group. This is Dassault
Aviation's choice."
The Paris-based company said that the
partnership between the two giants led to the creation of the "Dassault
Reliance Aerospace Ltd (DRAL) joint-venture in February 2017.
"Dassault aviation is very proud that the Indian authorities have selected the Rafale fighter," it added.
The
deal to purchase 36 Rafale fighter jets from France was announced by
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 and signed in 2016.
The UPA
government was earlier negotiating a deal to procure 126 Rafale jets,
with 18 to come in flyaway condition and 108 to be manufactured by HAL
under licence.
The Modi government has repeatedly said it was
Dassault that chose its India partner for offsets and that the
government had no say in the deal.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Customs Exchange Rates |
Currency |
Import |
Export |
US Dollar
|
66.20
|
64.50 |
UK Pound
|
87.50
|
84.65 |
Euro
|
78.25
|
75.65 |
Japanese
Yen |
58.85 |
56.85 |
As on 13 Aug, 2022 |
|
|
Daily Poll |
|
|
PM Modi's recent US visit to redefine India-US bilateral relations |
|
|
|
|
|
Commented Stories |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|