CONVERSATION: Indian firms are seeking French-proficient engineers, says Alliance Francaise du Bengale head Nicolas Facino
Alliance Française du Bengale (AFB), the French educational and cultural institution in Kolkata which is part of an international network that works under the triple umbrella of the French Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Fondation des Alliances Françaises in Paris, and an Indian board, completed 85 years this year in the eastern city. Established in Kolkata in 1940, AFB is an integral part of the city's French cultural connection and a hub of learning the language of love. However, with globalisation AFB now focuses on imparting globalised skills to learners, opening a second campus in the city in collaboration with Techno India in its efforts to combine culture with language learning. In a free-wheeling interview with IBNS editor Sujoy Dhar, AFB Executive Director Nicolas Facino shares AFB's objectives and activities circa 2025