As part of the plan, DCI seeks to "create French influence" through academic and training courses, Rotrubin said. Instilling an appreciation of the language and culture, the company's leaders believe, will confer a competitive advantage for French products, and DCI hopes graduates might later draw up specifications that reflect the French training.

...enjoying the full patronage of the Government of France and the Embassy of France in Sri Lanka, the AF de Kotte joins the ranks of the other official Alliance Francaise Centres in Kandy, Matara/Galle and Jaffna, offering French language classes to all age groups.

Two-thirds of French people want a law limiting the use of face-covering Islamic veils such as the niqab and the burqa, with only a minority backing the government's plan for a complete ban, a poll showed Saturday.

A cultural tit-for-tat is happening in France as Namaste France picks up steam. It follows hot on the heels of Bonjour India which saw French cultural events highlighted across 18 Indian cities. Now the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and the Indian Embassy in Paris has even outdone the French.

Ever since it was founded, the Alliance Française has been one of the most active promoters of the French language and culture around the world. Its action is all the more remarkable as the Alliances Françaises — there are currently a thousand of them — are private associations operating under local laws.

India this week launched a 15-month cultural festival,'Namaste France',to reciprocate France's 'Bonjour India',a two-month-long festival organised in 18 Indian cities. It's a risky strategy in a culturally perceptive country like France.Cultural diplomacy is much appreciated by the French;but this needs to be incisive for India to enter their consciousness.

Namaste France, a 15-month long 'Festival of India' has been launched in Paris to spread awareness about Indian culture which include dance, music, literature and cinema... Namaste France follows Bonjour India - the French cultural Festival held in India from November 2009 to February this year.

Some of India’s best-known artistes will travel to China and France this month for the “Festival of India in China” and “Namaste France” events respectively, organised by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR).