France's trade with India seen touching $12 billion by 2012

France's bilateral trade with India is expected to reach $12 billion by 2012, with India importing nuclear equipment from France and French companies setting up a nuclear park in India, France's foreign trade minister Anne Marie Idrac said today.

Indian imports, including nuclear reactors, boilers, mechanical appliances, etc, from France rose to $6.3 billion in 2007-08 from a mere $0.60 billion in 2000-01, she pointed out.

This brought France's share of India's total trade with the European Union of $73 billion to 12.14 per cent, she added.

Besides nuclear power, the French minister has identified food processing, green technology, information technology as potential sectors for boosting trade with India.

"There is an ample opportunity in green technology sector as well as IT and nuclear power and France is scouting for opportunities to invest in India," Idrac said, adding, "We also invite Indian companies to invest in France."

Speaking at an interactive meeting organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the French minister said France could help India develop its food-processing sector by offering its expertise and technology in the area.