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Ranvir Nayar in Paris

Come December and France will be the flavour of the month all over India. Be it business or industry, cosmetics or perfumes, wines, food or cinema, there will be something French about them. In its bid to improve the image of France in India, the French government has decided to hold a promotional exercise, the largest of its kind in India.

France India 2000 will begin in New Delhi with an industrial exposition at the Pragati Maidan grounds. The expo will see participation of nearly 225 French companies spanning the entire spectrum of business activities, from the $ 40 billion water and communications giant Vivendi to the $ 800,000 Ido, a food processing company.

However, to most of the companies that will participate in the expo, India is an entirely new ball game.

``Nearly 70 per cent of the participants in the exhibition are small and medium enterprises, who have never had a presence in India. This exhibition will give them their first real chance to seek a partner in India and establish a base there,’’ Olivier Chiche-Portiche, who is in charge of organising the exhibition, told rediff.com.

The exhibition will focus on some sectors where France is at the forefront of technology worldwide. These include aeronautics, space, infrastructure, shipping, transportation, ports, roads, urban development, telecommunications, environment, water, health, energy, petroleum, gas and power companies.

The show will also feature companies from chemical, pharmaceutical and health sectors. It will also have participation from the services sector including banks, tourism and information technology.

``The exhibition will be a two-way flow. Not only will India learn about France, but French companies will get an opportunity to see the Indian market which is perceived as an alternative to China,’’ says Chiche-Portiche.

The expo in New Delhi will be followed by "France India Art de Vivre" in Bombay. The art show, to be held from December 13 to 15, will showcase the best products of France in perfumes and cosmetics, garments and clothing, jewellery and watches, wines and spirits and cutlery. Luxury brands of France will be on display. These will range from LVMH and L’Oreal to Christian Dior.

Alongside will be a Festival Gastronomique at Bombay’s Oberoi Hotel where some celebrated French chefs will serve up French delicacies. Festivals of French cheese, wines, champagne and hot breads will also be held.

The entire festival in Bombay will be topped by an Opera show by the reputed French artiste, Nicole Founie, and a fashion show of the gurus of hairstyle.

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