Tuesday, July 12 2005 15:51 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: India has received a proposal from France for joint production of defence equipment, Defence minister Pranab Mukherjee said yesterday (July 11, 2005).

"A proposal from France for joint production of Defence equipment, which both the countries will use, is currently with the Indian Government," Mukherjee told sources.

He was replying to a question whether India would consider signing a defence co-Operation agreement with other countries like France and Russia similar to the one signed with the USA during his recent visit to Washington.

Asked whether India was as keen as France to sign the agreement for joint production of Defence equipment, Mukherjee replied, "The Government will take a view on this when the matter for acquisition of Scorpene submarines from France will be decided." Asked whether India was planning a similar defence co-operation agreement with Russia, he said that India had along time agreement with it for the past thirty years.

Questioned how the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government would address the Left parties protest against the Indo-US Defence Framework Agreement and their objections to the strategic partnership with USA, Mukherjee said, "Strategic partnership is there for the past ten years, this is nothing new."

He was speaking on the sidelines of a seminar on "Defence procurement from small and medium enterprises" organised by the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.