New Delhi: French team constituted to negotiate the Rafale deal has arrived in India and talks can start anytime now, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said today as he described the agreement as "one of the bold initiatives" of the Modi government.
A committee headed by Air Marshal SBP Sinha is all set to begin government-to-government negotiations with France for procurement of Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Air Force, and the multi-billion dollar deal will be finalised as early as possible, Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said.
“The committee set up on May 13 will begin negotiations on the deal any time as a French delegation has arrived in India to hold negotiations,” Mr Parrikar said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to France last month had signed an agreement to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets for over $6 billion.
Speaking about the achievements of the Defence Ministry, Mr Parrikar said that Capital Acquisition proposals of Rs.1,60,000 crore, which were blocked for years, had been cleared.
He said that under the Make in India initiativc, the government had allowed 65 per cent licence-free manufacturing and exports. FDI in Defence has been increased to 49 per cent.
In the Defence sector, he said, the government would emphasise indigenisation in manufacturing. Ordinance factory production had already shown improvement, he said.
Defence Minister Parrikar said Tejas, the light combat aircraft, would undergo final flight testing next month, observing that ‘Make in India’ was a long-term solution for improving the strength of the IAF.
Speaking about achievements of the Modi government, he said that apart from good performance in international relations, the government domestically has improved considerably the Centre-State relations by allowing 42 per cent of devolution of funds to States in place of earlier 32 per cent.
