PM Narendra Modi concluded his three-nation visit to France, Germany and Canada

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 17 April 2015 returned to India after his three-nation visit to France, Germany and Canada.

During his nine-day visit, which took place from 9 April to 17 April 2015, he met leaders of the three nations namely French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

The visit concluded with some major agreements which would boost Modi’s vision of Clean India, Make in India and others.

Some major agreements include purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets with France, agreement for supply of uranium with Canada for nuclear power plants in India and Airbus plan to come to India and be a part of Make in India initiative.

MoUs and agreements signed with France and Germany covered areas like Defence and Nuclear Energy, Space, Economic relations, Railways, Energy, Tourism, Science and Technology, Skill Development, Ayurveda, manufacturing, urban development, environment, railways, cleaning of rivers, language and science & technology.

Agreements with Canada covered the areas of uranium, visas, terrorism, foreign investment promotion and protection, Canada-India comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) free-trade deal, culture and people-to-people ties, regional and global issues and others.

The other major highlights of the visit were the gifts presented by PM Modi to the leaders of the respective countries. The gifts included
• A miniature painting titled Guru Nanak Dev to Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper. The painting on handmade paper with mineral colours had Guru Nanak Dev with his two disciples Bhai Mardana and Bhai Bala, sitting beside him is painted in the traditional Indian miniature style.
• A painting titled Tree of Life was gifted to French President Francois Hollande. Tree of Life: A painting that reflects traditional societal respect for nature in India.
• Some reproductions of Sir CV Raman’s manuscripts and papers were gifted to the German Chancellor Angela Merkel. CV Raman had strong connection with Germany.

Besides, the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper presented ancient Indian sculpture Parrot Lady to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Parrot Lady is a life-sized, sandstone sculpture and is said to be around 900 year old and was carved for placement in one of the Khajuraho temples that form a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Madhya Pradesh. It was returned to India in line with the 1970 UNESCO Convention.