Two days before the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to India, the Cabinet on Wednesday approved agreements on Mutual Recognition on educational qualifications and in the field of environment.

A Mutual Recognition Agreement, or MRA, is aimed at facilitating trade in services thereby recognising the academic qualification and standards of each other’s countries and brings them in conformity with each other.

The agreement is expected to be signed during the forthcoming the three-day visit of the French President from March 9-March 12.

“The signing of the agreement will help in deepening the educational ties between India and France and will go a long way in boosting the educational relationship between the two countries,” said an official statement.

The agreement will be instrumental in encouraging mobility of students from both the countries by facilitating possibilities for them to continue their studies in the other country and would also promote excellence in higher education through innovative partnerships/collaborations and research activities which will be leading to the improvement of the quality of education in India, it added.

The Cabinet also approved signing of a memorandum of cooperation in environment between India and France.

This will enable establishment and promotion of closer and long-term cooperation between the countries in the field of environment protection and management of natural resources on the basis of equity, reciprocity and mutual benefits, taking into account the applicable laws and legal provisions in each country.

The Cabinet also okayed an agreement between India and France on the Prevention of the Illicit Consumption and Reduction of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Chemical Precursors, and related offences.

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