MoU with France will provide global platform to the culture of the state- Chief Minister Dr. Yadav
Bhopal: An important tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav at the Chief Minister’s residence, Samatva, with the aim of strengthening long-term cooperation between France and Madhya Pradesh in the field of culture and tourism. This will make Madhya Pradesh a new center of cultural and tourism cooperation between India and France. This historic MoU was signed by French Ambassador to India Dr. Thierry Mathou, Principal Secretary Tourism and Culture Shiv Shekhar Shukla and President of Alliance Française de Bhopal Akhilesh Verma. This agreement will be valid for the next three years and can be extended further with mutual consent. Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav said that relations between India and France have always been good. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France, it has become stronger. Madhya Pradesh is ready for business relations with France along with cultural relations. His visit to France is proposed next month. Work will be done on the possibilities of mutual cooperation between India and France in terms of industrial development, encouraging entrepreneurs and promoting handicrafts. This MoU realizes our vision to establish Madhya Pradesh not only as the cultural capital of the country but also as a progressive, global tourism and cultural center. Artists of the state will get a global platform and the number of tourists coming from France and Europe will increase significantly.
Expressing happiness over this partnership, French Ambassador to India Dr. Thierry Mathou said, “We are very happy to establish this important cooperation with the Government of Madhya Pradesh. France mainly works on tourism, security, environment and education. This MoU will further strengthen the cultural relations between the two countries, which will open new opportunities in the field of art, education and tourism.” Under the MoU, cultural programs will be organized jointly, which include art festivals, music, dance, exhibitions, film screenings, food and other programs related to culture. A dedicated Indo-French cultural calendar will be prepared every year. Also, the tourism promotional material of the state will be translated into French language and special efforts will be made to attract French tourists. Tourism sector officials and guides will also be given training in French language and culture. This agreement will strengthen the cultural strategy of the state and provide a global platform to local artists, craftsmen, students and cultural organizations, which will establish the unique identity of Madhya Pradesh at the international level. On this occasion, Principal Secretary Industry Raghavendra Kumar Singh, Consul General of France Jean-Marc Serre-Charle, Political Counselor of French Embassy, Shad Joynal Abedin and representatives of Alliance Française were present.
