- Also known as (Campaignie des Indes Orientales) was established in 1664 with the government’s financial support. Colbert, a French Minister, during the reign of Louis IV was the driving force behind it.
- Export items by the French from India were white cotton clothes, muslin, painted clothes, pepper, saltpetre, cowries, and redwood.
- Import items by the French into India included alcohol, wines, coral, gold thread and iron products.
- However, the value of goods exported from India far exceeded the value of goods imported into India leading to large deficits. Exports of precious metals to India made up for the deficits.
Factories
- French established their first factory in Surat in 1668.
- Pondicherry: A factory at Pondicherry was established in 1674 by the French East India Company, which emerged as their headquarters in India where Fort Louis was established in 1700-07.
- Other important factories were established at Balasore (Odisha), Masulipatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Chandernagore (West Bengal), Tellicherry (Modern Thalassery, Kerala) and Calicut (Kerala).
French Partis
- French were the forerunners in organising and commanding Indian armed contingents. Reasons:
- French soldiers were paid poorly and common soldiers could not become officers as this was reserved for the nobility.
- Indian rulers paid the French soldiers handsomely and there were opportunities to rise in rank and status for soldiers with military competence.
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