countries, had been successfully implemented. They expressed satisfaction with the Government of India’s decision to increase the number of young professional beneficiaries of the French VIE program in India from 50 to 250 per year for a maximum period of stay of 2 years and with the Government of France’s decision to grant an extended stay of 2 years to students of masters level and above in France. The two Leaders called upon students of both countries to derive full advantage of this facilitation to enhance their educational and professional experience. 43. Recognizing the commitments made in the Indo-French statements issued in February 2013 and in April 2015 concerning the negotiations of a bilateral partnership agreement on migration and mobility, the Leaders affirmed their commitment to pursue their discussions on this agreement with a view to conclude them as soon as possible. 44. In the field of higher education in which hundreds of agreements between French and Indian institutions have already been signed, the two Leaders welcomed : (i) The agreement signed between the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune and the Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon. (ii) The agreement signed between the Indian Institute of Technology in Mumbai and French CNRS/Telecom Bretagne/Université de Bretagne occidentale/Université de Bretagne Sud/ENSTA Bretagne/ENI Bretagne. (iii) The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for sponsored Ph.D. Fellowships signed between Thales and Indian Institute of Technology Mumbai. 45. Recognizing that skills development was a key priority, both leaders welcomed the important role played by French companies in India in training and skilling the Indian workforce and encouraged them to engage even more actively in the sector. 46. They also welcomed partnership between the French CNCP and the National Skills Development Authority of India focusing on Qualifications Register under the framework of the MOU on cooperation signed between India and France. 47. The Leaders recognized with satisfaction, the role played by the Indo-French Centre for Promotion of Advance Research (CEFIPRA) over the last 28 years in promoting collaboration between the scientific communities of the two countries across the knowledge innovation chain. They encouraged CEFIPRA to expand its role by implementing bilateral programmes in partnership with various scientific agencies and industries, both in France and India. 48. The leaders also welcomed the establishment of a Ministerial-level Joint S&T Committee to foster even closer Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation through multi-stakeholder participation from both countries. 49. The leaders expressed their satisfaction on the progress achieved between the Indian and French partners involved in setting up the future Institute of Marine Biology and Biotechnology. V. Heritage, Culture, Sport 8/10