‘30,000 Indian students in France by 2030’: French President on Republic Day 2024

NEW DELHI: French President Emmanuel Macron said the country will welcome 30,000 Indian students in 2030. He is on a two-day visit to India and is currently attending the Republic Day 2024 event as chief guest.

“30,000 Indian students in France in 2030. It’s a very ambitious target, but I am determined to make it happen,” the French ambassador said.

He said that the country will be launching a new initiative “"French for All, French for a Better Future" to teach French in public schools. “We are developing the network of Alliances françaises, with new centers to learn French. We are creating international classes which will allow students, who do not necessarily speak French, to join our universities,” he tweeted.

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The president said that the country will also facilitate the visa process for all former Indian students who studied in France.

“Coming to France means looking for excellence. We have now 35 universities in the QS ranking, and about 15 in the Times higher education ranking. India and France have so much to do together, now and in the future. We will achieve this with you, our young people, in exchange and cooperation, in trust, in friendship!” Macron said.

French consul general, Kolkata, Didier Talpain during ‘Choose France Tour 2023’ event in October 2023 also said that the number of Indian students is less than 10,000 and that efforts need to be made to triple the figure.