New Delhi, April 22: The 7th Governing Council meeting of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) took place in New Delhi, where France co-chaired the event alongside India. After a successful two-year term, France handed over the co-chairmanship to Brazil.
Jean-Paul Cétre, Deputy Director General for Global Affairs and Cultural and Economic Diplomacy at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, co-chaired the meeting with Dr. P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister.
Addressing the gathering, Cétre expressed pride in the collaboration with the Indian government, CDRI, and its 65 member countries over the past two years. He highlighted their contributions to combating climate change and promoting investments in sustainable infrastructure. Cétre assured full support for Brazil as it takes on the co-chairmanship for the next two years, expressing confidence in the continued strength of the CDRI’s mission.
Amit Prothi, Director General of CDRI, thanked the French government for its support and contributions during the last two years. A notable achievement was the hosting of the International CDRI 2025 in Nice, marking the first time this major conference was held outside India. Prothi expressed eagerness to further strengthen collaboration with France, especially during this year’s French G-7 presidency.
During its co-chairmanship from 2024 to 2026, France provided various forms of support to CDRI. This included funding two experts to assist with initiatives related to small island nations (IRIS program) and robust infrastructure financing. France also promoted CDRI on international platforms such as G20, G-7, and COP, helping to onboard new partners and increase the number of member countries.
Additionally, France hosted an international conference (I-CDRI) during the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) in June 2025, ensuring participation from global leaders.
In February 2026, an agreement (MoU) was signed between CDRI and the French Development Agency (AFD) during President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India, with Minister Éléonore Caroit also in attendance. This agreement aims to enhance cooperation between the two entities in third countries.
This entire initiative is a significant step towards advancing CDRI’s work and building resilient and secure infrastructure worldwide.
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