French President Francois Hollande has begun a three-day visit to India that could push a multi-billion dollar deal for combat aeroplanes and closer co-operation on counterterrorism and clean energy.
Mr Hollande landed in the northern city of Chandigarh where Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due to join him at official engagements.
Designed in the 1950s by Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier, Chandigarh is one of three places that France has pledged to help develop as so-called "smart cities" - with clean water supplies, efficient sewage disposal and public transportation.
In Chandigarh, Mr Hollande and French business leaders will meet with Indian counterparts to boost bilateral trade, which in 2014 stood at $8.6 billion. New Delhi is also trying to encourage French companies to tap into India's economic boom.
Mr Hollande will hold talks with Indian leaders in the capital on Monday.
High on the agenda is India's desire to purchase 36 Rafale combat planes for its air force, which Mr Modi had announced during a visit to Paris in April.
In an interview with the Press Trust of India news agency, Mr Hollande hinted it might take some more time to sign the deal.
"Agreeing on the technicalities of this arrangement obviously takes time, but we are on the right track," PTI quoted Mr Hollande as saying.
France has also promised support for India's clean-energy quest, including a solar energy alliance launched last month during the global climate talks held in Paris.
The two sides are also expected to touch on anti-terrorism efforts, including speeding up extradition requests and cracking down on money laundering used to fund militant activities.
Both countries have been hit by militants recently, with 130 people killed across Paris on November 13 and a four-day siege against the north Indian air force base of Pathankot this month in which seven Indian soldiers were killed.
