India-France Strategic Talks Underway Between PM Modi And President Macron
narendramodi,india,france,President MacronIndia-France Strategic Talks Underway Between PM Modi and President Macron
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron are holding delegation-level talks at historic Villa Kérylos at Nice in France. The discussions between two sides focus on expanding the Special Global Strategic Partnership between two countries, covering defense, technology, and trade. The two leaders also interacted during a walk and talk session at Villa Kerlyos.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi and French President Macron jointly inaugurated Bharat Innovates event at Palais des Expositions in Nice. The landmark initiative showcases India’s rapidly expanding innovation and startup ecosystem. The three-day event, brings together Indian deep-tech start-ups, innovators, researchers and investors with global innovation funds and footprint. It showcases India’s premier deep technology at the global stage, presenting 120 pathbreaking start-ups and over 20 Institutes of Excellence, across 13 critical technology pillars of global importance. Over 350 top investors and venture capitalists from across the world are also participating in the event.
Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Modi said Bharat Innovates is emerging as a bridge between India’s talent and European capital, creating new opportunities for young innovators to connect with global expertise. Highlighting India’s startup revolution, Mr Modi said, the country’s youth are developing solutions for global challenges in areas ranging from artificial intelligence and space technology to green energy, advanced manufacturing and defence innovation. He noted that India today has over two lakh startups and is promoting a model of human-centric innovation guided by the principle of Technology for Humanity.
Highlighting the strength of India-France ties, Prime Minister Modi said, while many nations engage in trade and strategic cooperation, only a few relationships are guided by a shared vision as well as common interests. He described the India-France partnership as one such enduring relationship, rooted in mutual trust, shared values and a common outlook for the future.
Addressing the gathering, French President Macron praised India’s emergence as a global innovation powerhouse and said the question today is no longer whether India is innovating, but who will innovate with India. He highlighted India’s vast pool of engineering talent and lauded country’s achievements such as the Chandrayaan mission as examples of India’s technological excellence. President Macron said Bharat Innovates creates a strong bridge between India’s innovation ecosystem and France’s thriving technology landscape. He described it as an honour for France to host the first edition of the initiative outside India. He also congratulated Prime Minister Modi on becoming the longest-serving elected Prime Minister of India since Independence.
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Principal Scientific Adviser Ajay Kumar Sood, Infosys founder Narayana Murthy and several prominent business leaders were also present on the occasion.
Speaking at the event, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said, said India is emerging as a trusted and reliable partner at a time of global geopolitical and technological transformation. Highlighting India’s youthful demographic, vast talent pool and thriving innovation ecosystem, he noted that the country now has over 2.3 lakh startups under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mr Goyal said the 120 innovators participating in the event represent only a fraction of India’s capabilities and invited French businesses to strengthen partnerships by investing, designing, innovating and manufacturing in India for both the domestic and global markets.
The Minister stated that India and France have elevated their ties to a Special Global Strategic Partnership, highlighting growing cooperation in innovation and artificial intelligence. Mr Goyal added that the celebration of 2026 as the India-France Year of Innovation provides an ideal backdrop for the initiative.
Following the inauguration, Prime Minister Modi and President Macron visited the exhibition and interacted with startup founders, researchers and investors participating in the event.
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India-France Strategic Talks Underway Between PM Modi And President Macron
narendramodi,india,france,President Macron