The Uttar Pradesh MSME department and the Indian Ambassador to France, Jawed Ashraf, have agreed to set up a working group to explore the possibility of joining hands in sectors like defence, aerospace, textile, footwear and skill development.

State MSME minister Sidharth Nath Singh, who interacted with Ambassador Ashraf via video conference in August said that he had highlighted the initiatives taken by the state government in easing regulations to promote investments. Singh said the pandemic had provided the state an opportunity to relocate disrupted supply chains. “There is a huge opportunity to increase the percentage potential of exports from India and U.P. to France. A large land parcel has been earmarked for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) near the Jewar Airport in Greater Noida which can provide investment opportunities to French companies,” he said.