India - Visit by Chrysoula Zacharopoulou (October 18, 2022)
Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, Minister of State for Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, traveled to New Delhi on October 18 to take part in the Fifth Assembly of the International Solar Alliance co-chaired by France and India.
In her speech, the minister underscored the need to accelerate the energy transition in light of the ongoing energy crisis and the upcoming COP27, which will be held in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, from November 7 to 18. She recalled that the deployment of renewable energy that is accessible to all is a solution for fighting climate change and bolstering countries’ energy independence and security. She also emphasized France’s commitment alongside India in this area. Furthermore, she noted that the French Development Agency (AFD) has invested €1.5 billion in solar projects around the world since 2016, in keeping with the French president’s commitment. She also recalled that the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs had announced the launch of three pilot projects in Senegal, Bhutan, and Papua New Guinea during her recent official visit to India. France will continue to remain deeply invested in the work of the Secretariat of the International Solar Alliance.
On the sidelines of the assembly, Minister Zacharopoulou met with India’s Minister of Power and New and Renewable Energy, R.K. Singh, and with the Indian Minister of State for Atomic Energy, Dr. Jitendra Singh. The talks focused on expanding our partnership with India on global issues, both multilaterally and bilaterally. Lastly, she had in-depth discussions with French companies and participated in a panel organized by the Indian think tank, the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) on the topic of India’s fair energy transition.
The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is a joint French-Indian initiative that was announced during the COP21 and launched in India in 2018 by French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Its aim is to help accelerate the development of solar energy, particularly in developing countries.