India France Partnership, Partnership for the Planet

Context

President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi elevated the ‘Partnership for the Planet’ as one of the three pillars of the Indo-French Horizon 2047 Roadmap.

Partnership for the Planet

• The ‘Partnership for the Planet’ initiative consists of concrete projects aimed at fostering a greener and more inclusive future in India.
• These projects are a part of a broader commitment to finding sustainable solutions globally and within each country’s green transitions.

About French Development Agency (AFD)

• AFD acts as the operational arm of France’s international partnership strategy, incorporating AFD itself, Proparco (its private sector arm), and Expertise France (the technical cooperation agency).
• AFD is engaged in over 4,200 projects across more than 150 countries, with approvals exceeding €13.5 billion in new projects last year alone.
• In India, since 2008, the AFD has committed over €4 billion to nearly 100 projects.
• The key focus areas for AFD in India include energy transition, sustainable urban development, biodiversity conservation and resilience, and reducing inequalities.
• In 2023, AFD approved four new loans totaling nearly €400 million for various climate change projects in India.
• Specific Projects and Initiatives
  • Biodiversity Protection: A project with Rajasthan to increase forest cover and improve conditions for wildlife, supporting local communities.
  • Urban Development:
    • Implementation of new metro systems in Nagpur and Pune.
    • National program to boost resilience in urban water management and sanitation across 20 cities, selected through a challenge.
  • City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain (CITIIS): A project to enhance solid waste management in 18 cities as part of India’s flagship circular economy program.
    • It is a joint program of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Agence Francaise de Development (AFD), the European Union (EU), and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA).
  • Green Credit Line: A green credit initiative with the State Bank of India for electric buses and energy-efficient housing.
• Private Sector-Led Projects
  • Investment in Sahyadri: Proparco invested €11.2 million in Sahyadri, a farmer-led organisation, to help reduce farm losses and improve crop quality.
  • Healthcare Investment: A €33 million equity investment in Quadria, focusing on healthcare mid-caps in South and Southeast Asia, aimed at balancing quality healthcare and growing demand in underserved regions.

Future Directions

• Indo-Pacific Dimension
  • Indo-Pacific Parks Partnership: Biodiversity protection expertise from France, India, and regional partners.
  • Joint Fund for Green Technologies: Scaling up green technologies in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Focus on Innovation
  • Indo-French Year of Innovation (2026): Spotlight on innovative solutions blending social inclusion and sustainability.
  • AFD’s Innovative Approach: Continuous search for new ideas promoting sustainability and social inclusion.

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