PM Modi, President Macron Deepen Strategic Partnership
India, France adopt Innovation Roadmap 2030; agree to boost defence, trade, AI and space cooperation
- Modi and Macron hold bilateral talks in Nice
- India-France adopt Innovation Roadmap 2030
- New mechanism to double bilateral trade in five years
- Cooperation expanded in defence, AI, space and nuclear energy
GG News Bureau
Nice (France), 15th June: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday held wide-ranging bilateral talks in Nice, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening the India-France Special Global Strategic Partnership across defence, trade, technology, innovation and global affairs.
The meeting at Villa Kerylos was the first between the two leaders since India and France elevated their relationship to a Special Global Strategic Partnership earlier this year.
Both leaders reviewed the progress achieved under the Horizon 2047 Roadmap and discussed measures to further deepen cooperation in strategic sectors. They expressed satisfaction over the growing defence partnership and agreed to intensify collaboration through co-design, co-development and co-production of advanced defence platforms and technologies.
The two sides also reviewed ongoing cooperation in the space sector and explored new opportunities in human spaceflight, space situational awareness and private sector participation. In civil nuclear energy, they noted that India’s SHANTI Act has opened new avenues for collaboration, including the development of small and advanced modular reactors.
On economic cooperation, Modi and Macron welcomed the steady growth in bilateral trade and agreed to establish a high-level mechanism aimed at doubling trade between the two countries within the next five years.
The leaders also called for the early implementation of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement, describing it as a major opportunity to enhance trade and investment flows.
Discussions covered cooperation in aviation, railways, small and medium enterprises, critical minerals and supply chain resilience. Both sides welcomed the decision to establish a Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics in Kanpur.
A key outcome of the talks was the adoption of the India-France Innovation Roadmap 2030, which will provide a long-term framework for cooperation in innovation and emerging technologies.
Recognising the growing importance of artificial intelligence, the two leaders agreed to establish a Joint India-France AI Working Group to expand collaboration in the sector.
The leaders also highlighted the successful launch of Bharat Innovates 2026 in Nice and noted that Prime Minister Modi’s participation in VivaTech 2026 in Paris would further strengthen cooperation in deep-tech, semiconductors, agri-tech, med-tech, renewable energy, defence and space sectors.
Both countries welcomed the expansion of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in France and appreciated the signing of 19 agreements between institutions from the innovation ecosystems of the two nations.
People-to-people ties also figured prominently during the discussions. Prime Minister Modi thanked President Macron for the swift implementation of visa-free airport transit facilities for Indian nationals in France.
The two leaders discussed measures to increase mobility of students and skilled professionals, expand mutual recognition of educational qualifications and strengthen academic partnerships. Modi also invited French universities to establish campuses in India under the National Education Policy.
On cultural cooperation, both sides agreed to enhance collaboration among museums and cultural institutions, including initiatives linked to the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal in Gujarat.
The leaders exchanged views on major international developments, including the situations in West Asia and Ukraine. Prime Minister Modi also thanked President Macron for engaging India in discussions ahead of the upcoming G7 Summit in Evian.
Following the talks, President Macron hosted a luncheon in honour of Prime Minister Modi. The two leaders also viewed artworks created by French artists Thibault De La Lance and Théophile de Bascher during a residency programme in Jaipur, showcasing the cultural convergence between India and France.
