A number of French companies are keen to invest in Bengal. This was the message given to Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee by French Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont, who is currently in Kolkata to promote Bonjour India, a festival of France.

“A number of companies like Le Farge, Alstorm and Dreyfuss already have a presence here and many more companies have shown interest in setting up projects in West Bengal,” said Bonnafont. While the CM expressed his desire of French investment in sectors like food processing and renewable sources of energy, Bonnafont said his country will look at all the possible investment in the two sectors. France, which is looking at a 12-billion-euro trade with India by 2012, is also interested in educational sector.

“This year, around 130 students went to France from Bengal to pursue higher studies and the figure is rising annually at the rate of 25 per cent,” said Laurent Reyes, French delegate in-charge of scientific and university co-operation. The delegation has been scouting for students from Calcutta University, Jadavpur University, Presidency College and St Xavier’s.

Meanwhile, former French colony of Chandernagore is set to be restored to its glorious past and made an international tourist destination. “We want to preserve the present museum and the Town Hall and restore the colonial palaces,” said French Consul-General in Kolkata Jean-Louis Rysto.