MDI launches carrier opportunities forum

The forum was declared open by the French Minister of State for External Trade, Ms Anne-Marie Idrac. The French ambassador in India H E Mr Jerome Bonnafont was also present on the occasion.

The French Minister Ms Idrac said Europe and India have a shared destiny and need to work together for a peaceful and regulated globalization. India enjoys close ties with Europe. The two have formed an exchange network of finest business management schools including ESCP-EAP. Every year, students from around the world receive useful training in Gurgaon while a large number of students benefit from classes in Europe especially France.

Ms Idrac said the European Union (EU) today represents a unique economic and political partnership of 27 European democracies and is a free trade area of goods and services. It allows free movement of persons within a space comprising 24 member states. EU is a formidable source of travel, contact and cross-border trade and has helped reduce cost of tele-communications and flight tickets, European integration being an ongoing process.

Spelling out major challenges before her government, the Minister said French priorities are putting Europe in the forefront of fight against global warming, advancing a common agricultural policy, and having a balanced immigration practice. France has made climate change the number one priority as global warming is a major challenge facing humanity. France she declared will support India to benefit from suitable technologies without their cost becoming a hindrance to growth or to improvement in living standards. France and India can become strategic partners in the energy field as they share common views on the role of nuclear energy in the new global energy mix.

The French Minister also emphasized university exchange programs. Stressing that the world has becomeglobal village, openness to foreign cultures is essential particularly for students. Exchanges are also necessary for the future equilibrium of our planet as getting to know each other and inter-cultural dialogues are the keys to mutual understanding and progress.

Earlier, welcoming the French Minister MDI Director Prof C V Baxi alluded to a major corporate crisis currently striking the world and said long term solutions to global business issues need be found and addressed. He emphasized greater coordination and exchange of ideas among the global business institutions.

Major French companies in electronics, IT, telecom, automobile, chemical engineering and retail sectors, including Thales, Renault, Altran, Steria, Air Liquide, Schneider Electric, and Segece also participated in the job fair and conducted campus recruitments. The companies also made presentation.

Briefing the media men, Professor Subir Verma, Chairman PGPM and Placement said French companies in India employ above 42000 employees. The number is growing rapidly every year as more companies expand and diversify their presence in India. Companies like THALES, ORANGE, ALTEN, and many more have come forward to offer co-financed corporate scholarships and are willing to associate themselves with such endeavors, he said.