It was an Amazing Experience in Bihar says French Ambassador Francois Richier

Francois Richier, the Ambassador of France to India, recently paid a two day visit to Bihar. He visited  Bodhgaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Patna and Sonepur during his 3 day long itinerary from Dec 2 to Dec 4. He said on the concluding day of his visit that he was delighted to be in Bihar and praised the noteworthy change and development that took place in recent years. He is the first ever French Ambassador to pay a visit to Bihar ever since Independence.

On 3 December,  Richier met Bihar Chief Minister  Nitish Kumar to discuss potential areas of cooperation. Later he  had a meeting with various members of the Bihar business community in Patna and discussed the scope of Business ties between France and Bihar.

Richier asserted that there was a huge potential for cooperation in the field of higher education.  He invited Students from Bihar for pursuing  higher Education in France. Richier also discussed possible partnerships between institutions in France and Bihar for higher education and ways to increase student exchanges.

On 3 December, he met  Gopa Sabharwal, Vice Chancellor of the International University of Nalanda, based in Rajgir, and toured this site which has been the brainchild of India’s foremost economist and Nobel Laureate Mr Amartya Sen. The French Ambassador also engaged with the cultural and academic community in Patna and exchanged with institutes of scientific research like the National Institute of Technology based in Patna (4 December).

In the social field, Mr.  Richier paid his respects at the Mahabodhi temple at Bodh Gaya and met the Mahavihara society that preserves this World heritage site (2 December).  He  also visited an  NGO “Jeanamitabh Welfare Trust” founded in 2002 by a French lady, Ms Jeanne Pere, who works closely with local administration and teachers to educate and professionally train young destitute children in Bodh Gaya.

CM Nitish Kumar presented him with a Memento of Ashoka Pillar and a Shawl of world famous Madhubani paintings.